Clough counting on Coutts

Derby will check on the fitness of midfielder Paul Coutts ahead of the trip to Huddersfield.

The Rams resume npower Championship action on Saturday following the international break but Coutts has been laid low by a touch of flu and has done very little training during the first part of this week. Manager Nigel Clough hopes the 24-year-old summer signing from Preston will be able to take his place in the starting line-up in west Yorkshire. "Paul's got a heavy bout of the flu, so we're trying to keep him away from the rest of the squad as much as we can as we certainly don't want it spreading," Clough told the club's official website. "We'll see how he is come Friday and Saturday, but he'll be given every chance to be available." Gareth Roberts (hamstring) was replaced in the latter stages of the 5-1 home win over Watford prior to the international break, but Clough confirmed the veteran left-back has suffered no ill effects in the intervening two weeks. Forward Jamie Ward, midfielder Jeff Hendrick and defender Kieron Freeman have all returned unscathed from international duty but teenage striker Mason Bennett faces a spell on the sidelines after suffering a thigh strain while playing for Derby's Under-21 squad last weekend.