Exactly one month after suffering his injury, McEveley returned to the first team on 20 November 2009. He went on to start eight successive games, playing with a mask to protect his cheekbone. McEveley then entered into negotiations to sign a new contract, as his contract was due to expire at the end of the season. He made his 100th appearance for Derby when he started in the penultimate game of the 2009–10 season against Bristol City before scoring his fourth of the campaign with the opener in a 2–0 win over Cardiff City. This proved to be McEveley's last significant appearance in a Derby County shirt as on 5 May 2010 the club stated he would not be offered a new contract. He ended with 101 appearances and six goals from his three and a half years with the club.