Rams to wait on Hughes decision
His one-month stay with the Rams from Hull City is up after the Championship clash at the Liberty Stadium.
Fellow midfielders Paul Green and Stephen Pearson have returned to action since Hughes arrived and defender Miles Addison, who can also play in midfield, is back from a foot injury.
Lee Hendrie is also close to a return after a hamstring problem.
Given the number of midfielders available, it is likely Hughes will return to Hull and the Rams are thinking of delving into the loan market for a striker before the deadline a week today.
Nigel Clough says Hughes' situation will be dictated by how many midfielders are fit.
"That certainly comes into the equation," said the manager.
"If Paul Green is OK, Lee Hendrie is on his way back and we have got Stephen Pearson, Robbie Savage and Jake Livermore – it might be just a case that we have got too many in there.
"We will make the decision after the Swansea game, when we will see who is fit."
Hughes has made two starts for Derby.
The 33-year-old's debut was in the home defeat by Queens Park Rangers and he kept his place against Ipswich Town at Portman Road, a game the Rams lost 1-0.
Hughes did well at Ipswich but dropped to the bench when Paul Green returned in the victory over Coventry City after a two-month absence with a foot injury.
Derby also have Fredrik Stoor, Jake Livermore and Paul Dickov on loan.
Stoor will return to Fulham when his three-month loan is up on December 27.
Livermore and Dickov are here from Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City until January 2.
Dickov and Rob Hulse are Derby's two fit strikers at the moment while Chris Porter, Steve Davies and Kris Commons edge their way back from injuries.
Porter, Davies and Commons are back training.
"It is going to take them a while to get back up to speed again," said Clough.
"So if you are talking about getting a loan in, it will probably be a striker because the others could be three or four weeks before they are up to playing for the first team.
"It is OK coming off the bench for 15 or 20 minutes but if you are talking about strikers ready to start we actually still only have two – Hulse and Dickov – which is a precarious position to be in."
Clubs are allowed to name five loan players in the 18 on duty on match days.
Derby goalkeeper James Severn made his second appearance for England Under-19s this week.
Severn came on as a 75th-minute substitute in a 3-1 victory over Turkey at Scunthorpe United's Glanford Park ground.
The 18-year-old Rams Academy scholar made his England debut in Slovenia last month.
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