Byrne Already Feeling At Home With Derby

Nathan Byrne is already feeling at home at Derby County after just a fortnight in his new surroundings.

The right-back joined the Rams from Wigan Athletic, penning two-year contract, on the eve of the 2020/21 Sky Bet Championship season.

Byrne joined the Rams from the Latics following their relegation to League One at the end of last season, because of a 12-point deduction for entering administration.

The 28-year-old made his debut off the bench against Reading on the opening day of the league campaign and he went on to make his first start in Derby colours at Luton Town last weekend.

Byrne says the positive feeling in the Rams’ dressing room has quickly helped him settle into life at Pride Park Stadium.

He is already confident he can thrive under Phillip Cocu’s management and believes the style of play implemented by the Dutchman can bring out the best in him.

“I’ve settled in really well and there is great a good group of lads here,” Byrne told RamsTV.

“I am really enjoying working with the manager and I am feeling at home already. It depends where you are, what the group is like and what the manager is like, when it comes to if you are enjoying your football. I feel like I am already, so that helps.

“The hardest part is going into a new dressing room, but this group is very similar to the one I came from at Wigan. There are no little groups, or little cliques, everybody really gets on well and that is a positive thing, especially when you are trying to work together as a team.”

He added: “I think the style of play suits me too in my game and how I want to play.

“The manager wants attacking full-backs who brings that side of the game; crosses, assists and get forward when they can. I believe it suits me.”

Derby go into Saturday’s home fixture against Blackburn Rovers looking to get their first league points of the season on the board at the third time of asking.

Byrne knows it is important for the Rams to show a reaction to the defeats against Reading and Luton as quickly as possible and produce a performance which can provide them with the best possible opportunity of getting their first win of the campaign.

He said: “It is massive for us to try and get a positive result this weekend.

“We have got our own goals and in the dressing room we have said what our goals are for the season as a team.”

He added: “We need to start putting those performances in and turning those performances into wins. We know how big it is and we are going to give everything to make it happen.”