Giles Barnes is set to be sidelined for the foreseeable future and could miss the start of next season.
Youngster facing long road to recovery
Giles Barnes is set to be sidelined for the foreseeable future and could miss the start of the 2008/09 campaign.
The Derby midfielder suffered a knee injury during training in February and was recently forced to undergo surgery in America in an attempt to cure the problem.
The 19-year-old is back at Pride Park after visiting a Colorado specialist last month, but is facing a long road back to full fitness.
Having been restricted to just 24 appearances this term, the news that the young playmaker will now be unavailable for the beginning of the Rams' Championship campaign next season has come as a major blow to club boss Paul Jewell.
Operation
"It is going to be a long road for Giles but he is in the right hands and, hopefully, we can get him back as soon as possible," he told the club's
official website.
"He may have to go back to the United States for another operation, we don't know yet, but we wish him well in his recovery.
"The injury is a major blow to the lad as well as us and he will get all the support he requires from the club.
"Will he be available for the start of next season? I don't think so. He certainly won't be back for the first day of pre-season."
Unavailable
Jewell also confirmed that veteran defender Alan Stubbs is unlikely to line up against his former club Everton on Sunday as he continues to struggle with a calf injury sustained against Chelsea on 12th March.
"It was quite nasty pull on his calf," he said.
"We don't want to rush him back and knock him back.
"I don't think he will be available for Everton."
