Vydra Delighted With Championship Accolade In ‘Important Season’

Matej Vydra has expressed his delight at being named in the Sky Bet Championship’s Team of the Season.

Derby’s leading scorer, who has played a key role in the side’s promotion challenge this term, was earlier this week named in the division’s star XI by the EFL.

Vydra leads the Rams’ scoring charts after hitting the net 19 times in all competitions so far this season.

Eighteen of his goals have been recorded in the Championship and, with a month of the campaign remaining, he is the division’s leading marksman.

The Czech Republic international joined Derby at the start of last season from Premier League side Watford and, by his own admission, struggled for form last term and scored just five times.

Vydra believes that manager Gary Rowett playing him in his best position, in the number 10 role just behind the main striker, has been the catalyst behind his impressive form.

Ahead of the season getting underway back in August the 25-year-old has admitted that he felt he had a point to prove - and he has responded emphatically by establishing himself as a key component of Rowett’s side.

Speaking to RamsTV this morning, Vydra said: “I am so happy because last season here and the one before (on loan at Reading) I didn’t play well.

“Maybe this season was important for me to show if I can be a good player or not. It isn’t just about me; it’s about my team-mates and they help me so much.

“The manager has also helped me by playing me in my best position, which is as a ‘number 10’. He has given me a free-role on the pitch when we attack but defensively I have to do what he says.

“I like that and I always try to do my best for this team. Everyone has stayed behind me and helped me to score goals.”

Vydra added: “My father is always hard on myself and complains to me if I am not playing well or scoring goals – so I called him yesterday to tell him the news.

“This season he is happy and so am I. As well as scoring goals we are in the top six and that is a good reason to smile. He is coming to the home games against Middlesbrough and Cardiff later this month. I am happy about that.”

Vydra’s career-best return for goals came at Watford during the 2012/13 season as the Hornets reached the Championship’s Play-Off Final.

They were beaten 1-0 by Crystal Palace at Wembley Stadium and missed out on a place in the Premier League with Derby’s now first-team coach Kevin Phillips scoring the winning in extra-time from the penalty spot.

He hit 22 goals in all competitions that season and, with seven games of the current league campaign remaining, he hopes to at the very least equal that number.

Vydra said: “It is possible to beat my best of 22 goals and I will try my best.

“We have seven matches left, hopefully with three more in the play-offs, so I will see what I can do.”

One goal from Vydra’s 19 to date this season stands out from the crowd.

His long-range strike after just 24 seconds got the ball rolling in Derby’s 2-0 home win over local rivals Nottingham Forest back in October.

He produced a Man of the Match display against the Reds and set up David Nugent to score the Rams’ second straight after half-time.

That victory proved to be the start of the Rams’ rise up the table and into the promotion race.

The forward explained: “I think the Forest goal at Pride Park in October is my favourite so far.

“It was outside the area and with my weaker foot (left) as well. To score after 24 seconds was amazing in a big game for us.