Monday 24 November 2014 12:30, UK
Derby will this week assess the fitness of goalkeeper Lee Grant before deciding whether or not to further extend Jack Butland's loan.
Butland's initial month-long deal from Stoke was extended by seven days last week to take in Saturday's trip to Watford, where the England Under-21 international made a handful of important saves as the Rams won 2-1 at Vicarage Road.
The 21-year-old was brought in as cover for Rams number one Grant after he suffered an ankle injury against Reading in October. Grant has missed seven matches and it is still unclear whether he will be fit for the Championship clash against Leeds at the weekend.
"We're assessing Granty every day and seeing how he comes through," said Derby head coach Steve McClaren after the Watford win.
"Jack has been a blessing for us after finding out we were going to lose a top keeper like Granty for five or six weeks.
"We are very fortunate to have got Jack. Credit to [goalkeeping coach] Eric Steele and the relationship he has got with Stoke.
"We also thank Stoke and their manager, Mark Hughes, because we've got a top-quality goalkeeper in Jack.
"We will monitor the situation on a daily basis and try not to rush things. We want to make sure Granty's right when he comes back in."
Derby have won four of the six league games in which Butland has played.
