Buxton started 19 league games for Derby last season

Derby County defender Jake Buxton is on course to be fit for the opening game of the Championship season.

Boss Nigel Clough has been struggling for centre-backs during pre-season with Shaun Barker failing to fully recover from a knee injury.

And Buxton has been sidelined after having surgery on a groin injury.

But the central defender played 20 minutes in the midweek friendly against Burton and is likely to be on the bench against Leeds United on 7 August.

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