Bywater has been ever present for Derby this season

Derby County boss Nigel Clough believes goalkeeper Stephen Bywater has been "exemplary" this season.

The 28-year-old has kept back-to-back clean-sheets against Preston and Watford in the Rams' last two games.

Clough told the club website: "Stephen has been exemplary. He is fully fit and approaching the peak of his career.

"He has a good temperament, which is probably a factor of his age. He works hard in training and, like all goalkeepers, he is a bit daft."

Clough added: "There has been a lot of talk about English goalkeepers with the World Cup coming up and we believe Stephen is in the top dozen."

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