Derby face local rivals Nottingham Forest in their next game, and they have a few injury doubts.

The main player that could miss the game for the Rams is Tom Huddlestone.

He managed to finish the last match against QPR, but he had a dead leg for part of it which he is still recovering from.

Huddlestone has been a constant presence in the centre of midfield since he joined from Hull City in the summer. Not having him available for this would be a huge blow for Rowett because he brings experience and a strong defensive presence in midfield.

The East Midlands derby is likely to be decided by fine margins and Huddlestone being out could tip the balance in favour of Forest especially because they are playing at home.

Here's what Rowett had to say according to The Nottingham Post: "Tom had a dead leg in the (QPR) game."

"We got him through the game."

He indicated that whether he trains on Friday will be a big influence on his decision: "He’s felt a little bit of tightness after the game so Tom’s one that we’ll look at whether he trains today or not."

In his pre-match press conference, Rowett had this to say: "We've got another two days before the game, so we'll assess those players today, we'll assess those players tomorrow."

Although he wasn't drawn on the recovery of specific players.

The Verdict

Huddlestone would be a big miss, but the long-term is more important than a local rivalry, so they can't afford to risk his recovery. Joe Ledley and George Thorne are also out, so Rowett is slightly short-staffed in midfield.

Bradley Johnson is likely to start but who will partner him is uncertain currently. This isn't the ideal preparation for such an important game, but Rowett has shown before that he can find solutions and this game is unlikely to be any different.