MICHAEL Tonge is a doubt for tonight's game against Reading with the same virus that almost forced him to miss Saturday's victory over Watford.

Tonge battled through 81 minutes against Watford and scored the Rams' opening goal, his first for the club, but the on-loan midfielder has not trained in the last two days.

"He is still feeling under the weather," said manager Nigel Clough.

"Michael did very well to get through Saturday's game. We thought he would last 55 or 60 minutes. I think his goal put another 15 or 20 minutes on him."

Derby will leave a decision on Tonge to as late as possible.

If he misses the Reading game, on-loan forward Gilles Sunu could come in.

Sunu started on the right-side of midfield in the last away game against West Bromwich Albion.

"Gilles has looked very good in training in the last two days," said Clough.

Skipper Robbie Savage (foot) and defenders Shaun Barker (knee) and Jay McEveley (foot) all trained yesterday after sitting out Monday's session as a precaution.

Tonge has described his time at Derby so far as a "breath of fresh air".

He is on loan from Stoke City until the end of the season has made seven consecutive starts in all competitions.

The 26-year-old had found his chances limited at Stoke following his £2m move from Sheffield United but has reignited his career at Pride Park.

"It's been really good coming here – like a breath of fresh air for me," he said.

"It can sometimes be difficult going to a club on loan but everyone has made it very easy for me to settle in."