Isaiah Osbourne has emerged as a slight fitness doubt ahead of Sunday's trip to Barclays Premier League strugglers Bolton.

The Academy graduate is one of the contenders to replace the suspended Nigel Reo-Coker in central midfield at the Reebok Stadium.

But he sustained a groin injury in Monday's reserves victory against Chelsea and now faces a race to recover for the Bolton trip.

Martin O'Neill said: "He got injured on Monday night, but hopefully he'll be OK - it was one of those where he was stretching for the ball and fell awkwardly.

"The doctor assessed him on Monday night and it's around about the same area as his previous groin problem. But we're hoping it's not too serious."

Striker John Carew is definitely on the mend after missing four games with a knee ligament problem and the Norwegian international could return at Bolton.

O'Neill concluded: "He's coming on really fine now. We're going to get him outside to do a bit of work now. We're trying to really step that up as much as we can and we'll see how he is.

"I don't know whether Sunday will come too early for him, but we're certainly looking at having him fit for Derby and any matches around that time. We could do with his presence."