Jay McEveley is building himself up - literally - for a Premier League comeback.

The full-back, whose season seemed to be over when a hard challnege from Bolton's Kevin Davies on January 2 left him with medial knee ligament damage, is now eyeing a return to action when the Rams visit Wigan on February 23.

And the Scouser revealed to RamsWorld that he has spent much of his sidelined five weeks in the gym. "I've used the time I've had when I couldn't run to get myself physically stronger," he said.

"I worked very hard in the gym because this league is very tough and all the players are quick, big and strong and you have to be able to compete with them.

"So I looked at myself and decided I needed to get a bit stronger.

"Luckily I was also able to run in straight lines after a couple of weeks, so I used the treadmill to try to keep myself ticking over, but it's tough because it's not the same as playing games."

Asked to name his toughest opponents to date, Jay said: "David Bentley, Ronaldo and Shaun Wright-Phillips, the usual suspects, but there's a long list of tough opponents because every team you come up against has top quality players.

"You want to test yourself against the best and up until the injury it was enjoyable and I'm just looking forward to getting back and playing against these big name players again."

Jay is particularly pleased his comeback should put him in contention for a place in the Derby side on April 6 at Everton, the team he supported as a boy.

"When I first got injured I thought I might not be able to go back to Goodison, but hopefully now if I'm fit and selected I can play there this season," he said.

"I supported them as a lad and I especially wanted to play there and at Blackburn."

Before those games though, he's aiming for a recall at the JJB Stadium.

"Wigan is realistic. It's going well and I've been outside for a week now and that should give me the base I need," he said.

"Although I'll need a couple of games to get myself back up to Premier League match fitness. But I'm just looking forward to getting back out there and getting the shirt on and mixing it up."

Reviewing the season to date, Jay added: "I went through some of the games with a few of the lads the other day and it's incredible how many points we have thrown away or just been unlucky.

"If things had gone our way I really think we would have been in contention to stay up, so it's been an unlucky season with the things that have gone on and the injuries - but we know we can get better and bounce back up from the Championship with a good strong squad.

"I know where this club is going and where the manager wants to take us and I believe he will get the squad together to do that and I want to be a part of it."

Meet Sav, the gaffer and Tito at shopDCFC on Tuesday February 19!