Midfielder returns from three-month loan at Coventry - for now.
James is back with us for a few days now although Coventry have made it clear they would like to keep him."
Nigel Clough
Nigel Clough has confirmed that James Bailey has returned to Derby County after the conclusion of his three-month loan at Coventry City, but he has confirmed the Rams are talking to the Sky Blues about extending his stay in the West Midlands.
The 24-year-old made 18 appearances for Mark Robins’s League 1 outfit and impressed during his temporary stint with at the Ricoh Arena, after finding himself unable to force his way into Clough’s first-team plans during the early weeks of the season.
He also scored only his second career goal in their 1-1 draw with Preston North End last Saturday, before bringing down the curtain on his loan spell with a fine display in their 3-1 win at Stevenage on Boxing Day.
Robins has publically stated he wants to see Derby’s 2010 summer signing from Crewe Alexandra re-join his side, and Clough says dialogue is already taking place between the two clubs.
He said: “James is back with us for a few days now although Coventry have made it clear they would like to keep him, and we are talking to them about that.
“He’s enjoyed himself there and got games under his belt, so we’ll try and work something out which suits everyone.
“It’s no slight on James and his ability that he can’t get in our side either, it’s just that the likes of Craig Bryson, Will Hughes, Paul Coutts and Jeff Hendrick can all play in that position and are head of him.
“He trained with us today and he’s around for the next few days at least, so we’ll just see how things progress.”
Since joining Derby from Crewe in a double deal which also saw John Brayford head to Pride Park in May 2010, Bailey has made 62 appearances for the Rams and the last of those came as a substitute on the final day of last season against Peterborough United.
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