Derbyshire back on the radar

Matt Derbyshire: pleased to be playing first-team football again.

MATT Derbyshire insists he doesn’t think of his move to Athletic as a step down.

The striker has packed plenty into nine years in football, including match-winning Premier League goals and Champions League appearances.

Currently out of the first-team picture at Nottingham Forest, the 26 year old last week accepted the invitation from his old Blackburn Rovers teammate Paul Dickov to try relaunching his career at Boundary Park.

The switch paid immediate dividends: Derbyshire scored the first of Athletic’s two equalisers against Notts County on Saturday.

Tonight against Scunthorpe (7.45pm kick-off), he hopes to score again – and admits his early experience has persuaded him to consider a stay beyond the current term.

“Paul called me, after a number of other clubs had been in touch, and asked if I fancied coming to play for him? Straight away, I thought great — why not?

“Last year was a terrible one for me. I was out for a long time. I am here now and rather than travelling to Nottingham, I am 40 minutes from home in Blackburn which definitely helps.”

“I am here for the next six weeks, but if the gaffer is happy for me to stay longer, then I am open to that. In this game, you can easily go off the radar. I want to get on the pitch, grab a few goals and get my name out there again.”


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