Savage ready for Derby

Robbie Savage has declared that he is delighted to join Derby despite taking a pay cut, and feels that the long-term plan at County is filling him with confidence. Savage joined the Pride Park outfit for £1.5 million today from Blackburn.

"I wanted to play first team football and Mark Hughes couldn't give me that, so he gave me permission to speak to other clubs and it has happened from there really," Savage told Sky Sports News.

"As soon as I new Paul was interested I was always going to come to Derby. He was the key factor in why I have come.

"I have taken a pay cut to come and just play football and I am happy to do that."

On Derby's survival hopes he said: "It will be very difficult to stay up but obviously if we do go down it will be another challenge and I would look forward to that.

"The long-term plan filled with me with confidence. This is a Premier league club and if we do have to stake a step back, I'm sure we will come back stronger."