Derby defender Claude Davis will on Friday undergo a knee operation that could rule him out for the remainder of the season.

The persistent problem forced the Jamaica international to withdraw from the squad to face Birmingham, and he saw a specialist earlier this week.

Rams manager Paul Jewell revealed the 28-year-old had been playing through the pain barrier in recent weeks.

He said: "Claude has been playing on with an injury and I think he deserves credit for that. He needs an operation and he is going to have it on Friday.

"He has come in for a little bit of stick lately, which I don't think he would say he didn't deserve, but he has been playing in pain.

"We wish him well and we wish him a speedy recovery, but it is another blow and almost every game I have been involved in it seems another one of my defenders gets injured."

Davis joins an injury list that includes fellow defenders Danny Mills, Tyrone Mears, Jay McEveley and Darren Moore.

Team Talk / Eurosport