Hayes has spent time on loan at Barnsley this season

Derby County have shelved plans to sign Preston striker Paul Hayes on loan after an injury to Rams defender Gareth Roberts, reports BBC Radio Derby.

Derby had hoped to sign Hayes, 27, before Tuesday's game with Hull.

Although the loan could not be finalised, manager Nigel Clough remained confident it would go through.

But Roberts suffered a leg injury against the Tigers and Clough now wants to see how serious the problem is before he commits to signing Hayes.

The Rams allowed left-back Dean Moxey to join Crystal Palace in January and Clough is concerned he may need to sign more defensive cover.

Derby have been trying to bolster their attacking options for several weeks.

Attempts to sign Leicester's Martyn Waghorn and Conor Sammon from Kilmarnock both failed in the January transfer window but Clough did sign Jamie Ward on loan from Sheffield United last week, and earlier this week Millwall's Theo Robinson joined on loan until the end of the season.

Hayes joined North End in the summer but has failed to win a regular place.

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