Rooney has struggled for minutes at the League One club who are managed by ex-Rams skipper Conor Hourihane with the Tykes having fallen away from the promotion picture in recent weeks.

The 22-year-old has barely featured for Barnsley in the league with his last appearance coming at the start of December when he played against Peterborough in the FA Cup.

He has made just seven appearances in total since joining the Tykes on a season-long loan in the summer.

The likelihood is that Derby will look to send Rooney out on loan again to help further his development.

League Two clubs are likely to be put on alert for the defender whose chances of first-team football at Derby appear remote.

The former Burnley man is also out of contract at the end of the season and ideally needs game time to put himself in the shop window should he not get a new deal at Derby.

He is one of several players who have been out on loan this season with Kenzo Goudmijn at Go Ahead Eagles, Ben Osborn at Stockport County and Dajaune Brown is at Port Vale where Darrel Clarke has just been appointed manager.