Fact File: David Nugent

dcfc.co.uk takes a look at the career of Derby County’s new signing David Nugent in an in-depth Fact File.

Name: David James Nugent

Age: 31 (Born 02 May 1985)

Position: Striker

Former Clubs: Bury, Preston North End, Portsmouth, Burnley, Leicester City & Middlesbrough

Honours: FA Cup Winner, Two promotions to the Premier League

Leading Marksman: David Nugent has finished as the leading scorer at the end of six seasons in his career

Fact: The 31-year-old has scored nine goals in 16 appearances against Derby County over his career

CLUB CAREER

Huyton-born, David Nugent’s career in football also began on Merseyside – on the books of the famed Liverpool academy – but it was his first move in football that saw the forward really make his name.Leaving the Reds at just 15, Bury was his next port of call. He made his debut for the Shakers as a 16-year-old, but after learning his trade over the forthcoming two years, he burst on to the scene in the 2004/05 season.From August to December, he bagged 12 goals in League 2 – a record that earned him a move to Championship outfit Preston North End for just £100,000 – but making the jump up to the second tier was a seamless one.He notched eight further goals, including one against Derby in the play-off semi-finals, but the Lilywhites missed out on promotion to the Premier League after losing to West Ham United in the final at the millennium Stadium.He completed another two seasons at Deepdale, helping Preston achieve another play-off berth as he found the back of the net 29 times over those two years and finished as the club’s leading goalscorer.The Premier League beckoned and in 2007 he made his move to Portsmouth, completing a deal for £6 million and he then went on to make his top flight against Derby at Pride Park Stadium.His first year culminated in him helping Pompey lift the FA Cup after they defeated Cardiff City in the showpiece final.Despite being a regular feature on the south-coast, he headed for pastures new in a loan deal that saw return to Lancashire as he rocked up with newly promoted Burnley.Six goals scored, he could not prevent the Clarets from an immediate return to the Championship, who were relegated alongside his parent club, Portsmouth.Back in the second tier, Nugent enjoyed his most fruitful spell with Pompey. He hit 14 goals and once again finished as the leading marksman, playing a crucial role in the club maintaining its position in the Championship.Nugent’s contract expired in the summer of 2011 and after plenty of interest was shown, Leicester City swooped to bring the forward to the King Power Stadium.In sparkling and deadly form, Nugent enjoyed a standout three years with the Foxes – finishing as the club’s leading scorer for three successive seasons.During this period, he also netted his first career hat trick with a treble against Hull City, whilst he also lifted the Championship title at the end of the 2013/14 season – netting 22 goals en route to Leicester’s return to the big time.Nugent was part of the Foxes great escape in his final year as they won seven of their last nine games to stave off relegation and sustain their top-flight status.His fifth professional career move took him to the North East as he joined Middlesbrough on a three-year contract for a fee believed to be in the region of £2 million.A second career promotion followed with it and he bagged eight goals, including an important last-gasp winner against Hull City at the Riverside after stepping off the substitutes bench to lift Boro back into the automatic promotion positions as they went on to seal their return to the top flight.This season, Nugent has scored one goal in five outings – netting in a 2-1 EFL Cup defeat away at Fulham.

INTERNATIONAL CAREER

David Nugent’s international bow did not come until 2005 when he burst on to the scene with England’s Under 21s, scoring on his debut in a 2-2 draw with Moldova.He scored two further goals for the Under 21s and that coupled with his former for Preston North End, saw him called up to the full England squad by none other than Steve McClaren in March 2007.Nine days later, he made his one and only senior international appearance against Andorra and marked it with a goal, by tapping in a goal bound shot from Jermain Defoe in England’s 3-0 win in Barcelona.He holds the distinction of being the last player outside the Premier League to represent his country.Tweets by @ dcfcofficial