Manager Frank Lampard has been handed an injury boost ahead of the Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Final against Aston Villa on Monday.


Striker Martyn Waghorn, who suffered an iAchilles njury on the final game of the regular season, has returned to training and is in contention for Monday’s Final at Wembley Stadium.

The 29-year-old miss both Play-Off Semi Final fixtures against Leeds United earlier this month but the manager could welcome back the key figure following his recovery from injury.

Waghorn has scored 13 goals in all competitions for Derby this season after arriving from Ipswich Town last summer and he could return to the fold against Villa.

“Martyn Waghorn has trained for the last couple of days so it will be a continued assessment because we were in that situation before the Leeds game and he didn’t make it,” Lampard told RamsTV.

“We are in that situation now but it’s more positive than it was then. He is desperate to be involved. I think you could see that in how he reacted in the game against Leeds away.

“His celebrations with the fans and the way he was on the pitch, that’s what I love about him and others in the group.

“He is in contention and as is Duane Holmes, who came off at Leeds with an injury. They will be last minute decisions in terms of whether they take part, start or are on the bench.”