STRIKER James Vaughan remains on course for a return to Derby County in January.

The 21-year-old striker is now back in training at Everton following the knee injury that cut short his loan spell at Derby.

He will build his fitness this month and the Rams are looking forward to welcoming him back on loan in the New Year.

Vaughan joined the Rams in September and started the defeat by Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park and the home victory over Bristol City.

His three-month loan was due to expire on December 19 but the deal was cancelled when he underwent a cartilage operation.

"If James gets a game or two at Everton between now and January, we will get up and see him play," said Rams manager Nigel Clough.

"And we hope to get him down at some point for a training session with us, so he doesn't come in cold in January.

"We hope by then he is fully fit and raring to go."

Vaughan was brought in to add pace to Derby's attack.

The Rams have now turned to DJ Campbell, who has joined on loan from Leicester City until January.

He was an unused substitute in Saturday's victory over Reading, in which the partnership of Rob Hulse and Paul Dickov led the attack.

Hulse scored the winning goal – his sixth of the season – and Dickov impressed again.

Dickov's loan from Leicester also expires in January.

Chris Porter, Steve Davies and Kris Commons could also boost Derby's attacking options in the next few weeks.

All three have been pencilled in for a return to action after injury when the Reserves face West Bromwich Albion a week today.

"It was lovely to have Chris Porter warming up on the pitch before the Reading game, so the supporters can see he is up and running, and close, and Steve Davies is not a million miles away," said Clough.