NIGEL Clough says that Jake Buxton will be in contention for Saturday’s game with Derby County, but Lloyd Dyer, John Brayford and Sean Scannell remain doubts for the trip to Pride Park.
Clough will also assess the fitness of Will Miller ahead of the game.
Dyer and Brayford both missed the Brewers’ 2-0 defeat to Sunderland at the Pirelli Stadium, while Scannell started the game but came off in the second-half due to injury.
Buxton, who has played 17 league games for Burton this season, has missed the last two league games due to a muscle injury, but Clough expects the defender to be in contention on Saturday, but said that he will not be rushed back ahead of a crucial December schedule.
He said: “Lloyd Dyer, John Brayford and Sean Scannell are all doubts for Saturday, Jake Buxton is in contention, he has trained a bit this week. It is just that niggle that he had with his thigh against Brentford last week.
“It is at this time of year that you are very conscious of the games that are coming up over Christmas. If anybody injures a muscle now they will miss the best part of six or seven weeks, so you have always got that at the back of your mind balanced against the need to get a result on Saturday.”
Clough also confirmed that Will Miller has a tight hamstring ahead of the game and will be assessed before Saturday’s fixture.
“We are not sure (about Miller), his hamstring is tight and we always say to the lads that ‘if you feel something is tight, let us know’ because once they do go beyond that you are out for four to six weeks.
“Look at John Brayford, he has been out for five weeks and that is a fair chunk of the season, so we do encourage them to say something.”