The striker joined the Rams from Middlesbrough on Monday.
New Derby County signing David Nugent has explained to the club’s official website that he is looking forward to being the club’s hero rather than their nemesis and admits he is desperate to play a starring role again.
Nugent signed for the Rams on a two-and-a-half-year deal from Premier League side Middlesbrough to become their second signing of the January window after the loan arrival of his Boro teammate Julien de Sart last week.
The 31-year-old’s move brings to an end a frustrating period for the striker. After scoring eight times in 38 Championship appearances last season he has found it tough to break into the side in the Premier League, finding himself firmly behind summer signing Alvaro Negredo in the pecking order.
He made just four league appearances for Boro in the first half of the season, with his only goal coming in the EFL Cup.
Nugent has had an uncanny habit of scoring against County throughout his career, netting nine times in 16 all-time appearances against the East Midlands club.
However, he has admitted to the club’s website that he is now looking forward to becoming their latest terrace hero after so long as the villain.
Nugent told the club’s website: “I’ve scored a few goals against the club in the past; sometimes you have teams that you always seem to score against and Derby has been one of them. I’m looking forward to putting the Derby County shirt on and scoring goals for the club now.
“I can’t wait to get back out on the pitch and I am really excited about that. I’ve had a frustrating few months as I’ve not playing too much this season, so I am raring to go. I’ve only played one competitive game, in the EFL Cup at the start of the season, and I didn’t really have a sniff after that.
“I’m chomping at the bit to be playing games and I have that hunger to be playing and scoring goals. I am as hungry as ever. I can’t wait to get out there, get the fans excited and help this club to be successful.”
At Derby, Nugent will reunite with the manager who handed him his only senior England cap in 2007. The then-Preston star came on as a substitute for Steve McClaren’s Three Lions in a clash with Andorra a decade ago and scored on his debut, establishing himself as a member of the one-cap-one-goal club.
Though that was a long time ago, Nugent admitted that he is pleased to be reuniting with the man responsible for arguably the greatest moment of his career.
He added: “The England cap was a long time ago now, back in 2007 against Andorra; so I know Steve pretty well. I’ve kept in touch with him and he knows that kind of player I am and he thinks I can do well for this team.
“He is a great coach and he has clearly given the club a lift coming back, as the results have shown. I am just happy to come here and play for him, hopefully I can score the goals as well.”
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