Rams hoping Green gets all-clear to face Swansea

DERBY County have their fingers crossed that key midfielder Paul Green will be fit to face Swansea City tonight.

Green has been struggling with groin and calf niggles since he returned in the home victory over Coventry City, his first action in two months.

Green trained with the rest of the squad yesterday and manager Nigel Clough hopes the player will ready for the clash at the Liberty Stadium (7.45pm) against the Championship's form team.

Clough sees Green and fellow midfielders Robbie Savage and Stephen Pearson as important figures.

"I think you saw when we got Savage, Green and Pearson back in the team against Coventry, we looked more fluent than we have done for a few weeks," said Clough.

"They were used to playing together in pre-season and they are all good players as well.

"When you do get them back together in there, it makes a difference."

Striker Rob Hulse (groin) and defender Paul Connolly (foot) are fit after having injections but Miles Addison, who can play at the back or in midfield, has been suffering with a bug.

Addison will travel down to Swansea separately from the team.

Lee Hendrie misses out again.

He has not trained much this week as he looks to recover from a hamstring problem and his wife has also just given birth to a baby boy.

"Lee will train over the next few days with a view to playing in the Reserves on Tuesday," said Clough.

"If Greenie and Miles come through we could have the unusual situation of naming the same 18 we had on duty against Coventry – we haven't done that many times and certainly not this season."

Clough and his coaching staff are thinking over the formation they will use against Swansea as the Rams look to improve on the worst away record in the division. They have collected only two points from 24.

Derby went with a 4-4-2 in the last game, with Hulse and Paul Dickov up front.

"We do try and get two strikers up there as much as possible but the way we are away from home, it might not happen on Friday night, we'll see," said Clough who admits he is tempted to opt for a 4-5-1 shape against Swansea, who are unbeaten in 10.

"It is tempting," he said.

"We've got Savage, Pearson, Teale, Livermore, Green, Hughes and Croft – so we've got plenty of options there to do it.

"Jake Livermore was left out against Coventry but did very well in Holland and in training. Bryan Hughes has done well and both were unlucky not to play against Coventry.

"Sometimes a team will pick itself but this one doesn't.

"We will keep talking and thinking about it and probably talk Friday afternoon. We are not used to having these options."