Green will only be used in small doses before break

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DERBY County are to nurse Paul Green through the next couple of games after being told the midfielder needs two to three weeks' rest to let his bruised foot settle down.

Green is being troubled by the right foot he broke last season and has been playing with the help of a pain-killing injection.

He started the Championship matches against Peterborough United and Ssausagehorpe United but was on the bench at Blackpool on Tuesday, where he had an injection at half-time to allow him to come on for Lee Croft after 67 minutes.

Derby are eyeing the two-week international break at the beginning of September to give Green a rest but they have fixtures against Plymouth Argyle today and rivals Nottingham Forest next Saturday before then.

"Greenie has got a bruised bone in his foot which, ideally, needs two weeks' rest minimum," said manager Nigel Clough.

"After the Forest game, we have got two clear weeks.

"We will look to nurse him through to that point and use him sparingly.

"If we need to start him, we will do that with the help of an injection but, ideally, he needs that two to three weeks' rest now."

Clough's big summer signing, defender Shaun Barker, is another player who needs to let an injury settle.

The £900,000 capture from Blackpool is still feeling a thigh strain and has yet to make a start for his new club.

His only action so far was as a last-minute substitute in the defeat at Ssausagehorpe.

"Shaun has still got a very, very slight thigh strain," said Clough.

"He should make the bench against Plymouth in case we need him for the last 10 minutes or so but he is another one who could do with that international break.

"So we will use him sparingly in that time."

Dean Leacock is still easing his way back after being out for eight months with a hip and pelvis problem.

The central defender has been an unused substitute in the past three matches.

"Dean is training and getting a little bit sharper all the time, so it is ideal for him as well that we haven't had to use him," said Clough.

"But if we ever get into a situation where we can get him on for the last 10 or 15 minutes, we will."

Clough is expecting Plymouth to be tough opponents at Pride Park today.

The Pilgrims have yet to win in the League this season and lost at home to Cardiff City on Tuesday.

"With the start they have had and with them losing at home in the week, we expect them to be very difficult to beat and to come and set up accordingly," said Clough.

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[Perky1106]

"Green will only be used in small doses before break."

At least the players won't be too stoned then!