Jake Buxton would happily start the new season tomorrow after agreeing his move to Derby County.

The 24-year-old will sign a one-year contract at Pride Park with the option for another 12 months when his current deal at newly-promoted Burton Albion expires this summer.

And in his first interview with RamsWorld, Buxton described Nigel Clough's assessment he would "walk over broken glass" to join the club as an understatement.

"I could do with the season starting tomorrow so that I can get among the boys and show what I can do," the centre-half revealed.

"Every time those gates open on the front of the training ground you grow an inch, you see the badge and it's fantastic.

"I've never had facilities like this before and I'm going to make the most of it to prove to people that I am a Championship player.

"I have got to give myself the best possible chance I can, and that's by working hard and making sure I'm in great shape for the first day.

"I know I'm not going to be the first-choice centre-back but I don't mind that, and once I get that shirt it's going to take a big lad to take it off me.

"I want to stay in the side and show the Derby County fans that I'm worthy of the shirt, that I'll wear it with pride and passion."

Making the move up the A38 reunites Buxton with Nigel Clough - the manager who took him to Burton last summer.

The pair worked together at the Pirelli Stadium until Clough was appointed as Derby's new boss in January of this year.

Even in that short space of time, Buxton was able to gather knowledge of Clough's methods and an admiration for how the gaffer operates.

"We had four or five months together before he got his move here and I was gutted when he left," Buxton admitted.

"He made me improve and strive to get to a club as good as the one Nigel was managing.

"When the opportunity came to come and speak to Derby County there was no other club I wanted to go to.

"The first time I met Nigel he said I would enjoy it at Burton, and that was something that stuck in my mind.

"I had a poor last season at Mansfield, we'd lost a lot of games, and that was very disappointing.

"He told me I would enjoy it at Burton and I did. Every session I wanted to be out there, despite head injuries and knocks.

"I wanted to be out there training with the manager because his sessions and his commitment to us made you want to play for him.

Jake Buxton with Nigel Clough, Andy Garner and Martin Taylor. Picture by Andy Clarke

"I don't think you can put your finger on why that is.

"He has an aura about him that makes you want to play for him and work hard for him, and that's the way he is.

"He gives people a chance and now I need to repay him for giving me this opportunity and I'm going to try as hard as I can, show my family, and show the staff who have put their faith in me to give me this chance."

Moving to Pride Park is a big opportunity for the man born in Sutton-in-Ashfield and who grew up supporting Mansfield Town - the club he eventually captained.

Buxton made 174 appearances for the Stags, from his debut as a youth product in 2002 to his departure at the end of 2007/08.

He experienced the low of relegation from the Football League at the end of his final campaign at Field Mill, but being part of the Burton side crowned Conference champions in April helped ease that pain.

Now he's got to adapt to the surroundings of a Championship club and adjust to life in the second tier of the English game.

"It is a different game at this level - not as quick as Conference football, the ball is down on the floor a lot more, so I will be trying to learn and adapt," he said.

"I know I'm not a 19-year-old kid with time, I'm 24 so I have got to produce this year.

"Hopefully Nigel will give me the chance and I'll go out there and show everyone at this football club I'm worthy of that chance and keeping the shirt."

A full ten-minute interview with Buxton is available now on RamsWorld, during which he discusses coming through the ranks at Mansfield, learning from the experiences of over 200 career games, and following the same path as his good mate Alex Baptiste.

If you've not already signed up you can pay just £4.99 for access until August 20 - giving you all the summer content plus exclusive coverage of the early weeks of 2009/10.