Steven Davies not ready for Derby return - Nigel Clough
- From the section Football
Derby County boss Nigel Clough insists striker Steven Davies is not ready to make a shock return yet but hopes he may be back before January.
Davies was ruled out until the new year after fracturing his skull against Southampton in October.
But he said on social networking site Twitter that it was "60-40" he would be involved against Bristol City.
However the tweet has since been removed and Clough told BBC Radio Derby the Rams would "not be risking him".
Clough explained: "He hasn't been re-scanned since his original operation.
"Until he gets the absolute OK from the specialist surgeons then we won't be risking him.
"He will have a mask made as part of the process ready for when we do get the OK. But I think we are some way from getting that at the moment.
"Originally it was down for early January but we will get him checked out a bit earlier just to see if it has healed."
Clough said Davies is itching to play again.
"It's worse for him because he can train," Clough added.
"He is joining in all the sessions and doing extra fitness work as well and when you can train then you feel like you can get out there on a Saturday."