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Midfielder's fitness claims
Derby County, 15:38, January 22, 2009 ,
Giles Barnes claims he never had any doubts that he would return to the Rams first team and says he has been fit for weeks.
The Rams midfielder has been out of the side for the past 11 months after having surgery on a micro fracture but he claims he was ready to return prior to the defeat to Manchester United on Tuesday where he netted twice.
"I have had a long time out with injury but I would just like to say I have been fit for a while and I was not being played for reasons I don't know myself," Barnes told the Derby Telegraph.
"The 11 months was really frustrating. I also hurt my quad which put me back another two weeks but I played in reserve games and stuff and then got overlooked by the previous manager.
"That was up to him and was his opinion of the best team to pick. I obviously was not involved in his plans.
"The most frustrating bit was going through all I went through and then have somebody shut the door on you, in a way, but that is all in the past."