Derby County manager Paul Warne has spoken out on the future of Tyreece John-Jules.
The striker joined the Rams on loan in August from Arsenal but only until January.
He has had an injury-hit start to his life in the East Midlands, spending the last two months out with an injury to his thigh that he picked up in early September.
John-Jules has only made two appearances so far this season in League One for Derby.
Warne on decision for 22-year-old
Speaking to the Derby Telegraph, Warne has said that the club have not yet made a decision as to what will happen with John-Jules when it comes to the end of his loan spell.
“With every loan and every player, you assess all the time what you have got.
“There are players in our squad not getting game time who might think I am not playing I will want to go somewhere else.
“You always have that. With Tyreece, if we can get him fit, playing and then it’s a much more positive situation for us all. That’s the truth. We haven’t actually sat down and said we are 100 per cent keeping him or 100 per cent not. Hopefully he can get back, and then we can make an informed decision as opposed to just guessing.”
Should John-Jules stay at Derby?
John-Jules is set to return from his injury and could make the bench against Bristol Rovers on Saturday.
The 22-year-old will need to step up though in order to show Warne that he deserves to stay, with his contract at Arsenal likely to be expiring in the summer.
Having John-Jules back will be a boost for Warne though.
Warne has been having a few problems as of late at striker, but James Collins has temporarily alleviated those fears with five goals in his last three games.
But John-Jules will provide some pace and trickery upfront, something which Derby lack in that position.
The Rams’ other options in Martyn Waghorn and Conor Washington have been disappointing since their arrivals in the summer, so it is a big chance for John-Jules to make a statement after a few years in League One where his career has stagnated due to his performances on the pitch.