Jay McEveley will make a dramatic return to the Derby squad for Coventry's visit to Pride Park less than three weeks after suffering a fractured cheekbone.

Even more remarkably, the defender is back in contention after his heart stopped for two minutes during the operation to correct the facial injury he sustained in the league defeat at Middlesbrough on October 20.

McEveley will wear a protective mask but the 24-year-old insists he will not be holding back in any challenges.

"I can't play without being 100% committed to every challenge. If I'm lucky enough to play and there's a ball to be won, I'll stick my head in there without a moment's hesitation," he said. "The mask helps massively, it is very solid. It would have to be some blow for me to suffer any more damage."

The left-back is one of a quartet of players the injury-hit Rams could have available again along with fellow defender Dean Leacock, midfielder Paul Green and striker Rob Hulse.

Leacock and Hulse have trained this week after missing the defeat at Ipswich with mumps and a stomach bug respectively while a late decision will be made on Green's involvement following his lengthy absence with a broken metatarsal.

New signing Leon Barnett could be handed his Coventry debut.

Centre-back Barnett has penned a three-month loan deal from West Brom and could be thrown straight into the mix against a Rams side who have lost eight of their last 11 games.

Captain Stephen Wright missed last weekend's 3-1 defeat to Reading due to flu and has still been struggling this week while fellow central defender Ben Turner had to have an injection in his knee in order to line up at the Ricoh Arena but has also missed some training sessions in recent days.

Both are touch and go for the trip to Pride Park while goalkeeper Keiren Westwood remains a major doubt with the back problem that forced him off against West Brom proving more troublesome than first expected.

Left-back Marcus Hall has returned to training after the death of his father but whether he features remains to be seen.

James McPake and David Bell are both looking for vital match practice following their recent returns from injury while midfielder Sammy Clingan (broken toe) remains on the sidelines