Paul Jewell doesn't expect to allow more players out on loan from his injury-stretched squad ahead of the Football League's emergency loan window closing this Thursday.

Although the Derby boss is looking forward to Tyrone Mears returning to match action sooner than expected, keeper Roy Carroll and winger Mile Sterjovski were both having scans on groin injuries on Tuesday, while defender Alan Stubbs won't face Fulham this Saturday and Giles Barnes and Claude Davis are ruled out for the season.

He's also keeping his fingers crossed that Rams players currently on international duty - including Stephen Pearson, who is having treatment on a hernia problem while with the Scotland squad - all return without injury.

Meanwhile seven Rams players - Stephen Bywater, Craig Fagan, Gary Teale, Lee Holmes, Mo Camara, Lewin Nyatanga and Michael Johnson - are all currently out on loan. 

Jewell told RamsWorld: "We thought originally Tye would be out for the season but he's been training with the fitness coaches for the last three weeks and now he is ready for some football.

"We don't want to rush him back though because the last thing we want having come this far down the line is to push him, but I don't think we've yet seen the true Tyrone Mears.

"The squad is stretched. Stubbsy is still prgressing but he's another two weeks away."

Despite the injury blows, Jewell is looking for a good performance at Pride Park Stadium on Saturday in front of Rams supporters.

"The fans have been fantastic since I got here," he said. "They have stayed with us and next season hopefully we can reward them with some success.

"Fulham still have a chance of staying up so it's a must-win game for them and can be D-day for us so far as relegation is concerned - and we don't want that to happen in front of our own fans, so hopefully we can come away with something.

"When we get in that Championship we know there are a lot of good teams in there but we want to have a squad of players who know their jobs from day one and there will be no excuses.

"I don't think people realise the difference in quality between the Premier League and the Championship.

"It's a very even league and even good teams like West Brom have lost something like 11 matches.

"But whoever goes up this time, unless they strengthen dramatically, they will struggle just like Derby. You need to put top players in key areas to stand even half a chance."

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