Absence underlines Green's importance to us, says Clough
A foot injury has restricted the 26-year-old to just three starts since early March.
He started a dozen consecutive games when Clough arrived as manager in January, eight of them in the Championship.
Derby won four and drew one of those eight, and Green scored twice – one in the memorable FA Cup fourth-round replay victory over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground and the other in a 4-1 home win against Blackpool, when he was rewarded for an excellent third-man run from midfield.
Derby's bid to secure sufficient points to make certain of survival in the Championship dragged on because of injuries to a number of key players, including Green.
Striker Chris Porter, defender Miles Addison and forward Kris Commons were sidelined, as was Green, who broke a metatarsal in his right foot.
Surgery followed and a summer of rest and rehabilitation saw him return for pre-season. He quickly rediscovered his form and was in the goals, scoring in the friendlies against Chesterfield and Exeter City.
The foot injury appeared to be behind him but it flared again.
Although some of the discomfort was removed by pain-killing injections that enabled him to play, it was clear that the problem was bothering him and more surgery was necessary.
Green had another operation late last week and now he is on the road to recovery again. The good news for Derby is that he could be fit soon after next month's international break.
Clough admits the player has been missed.
"He has never been fully fit since March. He has been on and off and felt his foot here and there, so we are hoping the latest operation will finally put the matter to rest," said the Rams manager.
"It will be lovely to have him fully fit again.
"It will also be lovely for him to have that nagging doubt removed. It is not nice when you are training and feel the injury again and that is the situation he has been in.
"It has been nagging away at him for too long and we hope this will finally cure it and he can play the last three quarters of the season."
Green was one of the first players Clough noticed after he replaced Paul Jewell as manager.
Derby had been on the slide under Jewell and Clough needed to steady the ship. He saw Green as a player who could help the team do just that.
"It was clear early on that he was a key figure for the side and it was no coincidence when he did miss games through injury at the end of last season, we struggled at times," said Clough.
"There were a few players injured at the same time but, yes, he is a very important member of the squad.
"His attitude is terrific. If you get 11 players with the attitude of Paul Green out there, you will not go too far wrong."
There has been much discussion about Derby's formation this season.
They started the campaign with a 4-5-1 shape featuring a lone striker, two wingers and three central midfielders.
Clough has reverted to a 4-4-2 system in the past two matches and both have ended in defeat at the hands of Barnsley and Crystal Palace.
A fit and available Green has shown he can slot into most systems.
He has played in a central midfield three with Robbie Savage and Stephen Pearson, and a midfield two, as he did with Savage during the Rams run of four consecutive league victories last season.
At times last season, Green played on the right side of a four-man midfield.
Such versatility is useful for a manager.
Derby's best football so far this season has come when they have had three midfielders.
"Paul Green is certainly suited to that role but he can also play in a midfield two," said Clough.
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