Derby County's latest summer signing Curtis Nelson believes the Rams have a 'massive opportunity' to get back to where they want to be in the 2023/24 season.
The 30-year-old defender, who has over 500 appearances to his name, joins the Rams after his short-term contract with Blackpool expired.
Nelson has spent the last four years playing his trade in the Championship but found the decision to drop down a division easy due to the size of Derby and the ambition of the club moving forward.
The centre-back sat down with RamsTV after putting pen-to-paper and spoke of his delight at getting the move done.
On how long a move has been on the cards...
A little bit too long I guess! I'm really happy to be here now and get it done. I met the manager at the start of the summer so I'm really happy to be here and get started.
On why he chose Derby County...
The size of the club, the manager. I know a few of the lads that are here and I know a few that have played for the manager too. Everything they have said has been positive, very positive in fact, about the club and Paul Warne. I think it's a massive opportunity for the club to get back to where it once was.
On what Paul Warne expects from him...
He wants me to be myself and play how he knows I can play. He wants me to come in and help the club get promoted, that's the number one aim. I know every single team in the league will want that but more so for Derby - we want to go up this year.
On how he feels right now...
At the moment I feel in a really good place. I feel fit and ready to go. It was good to move and experience another changing room at Blackpool last season, but I've got another challenge now. It will help knowing a few lads already here but I'm ready to go.
On who he knows in the changing room...
I know Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, James Collins and I played with Conor Hourihane years ago at Plymouth Argyle and we've kept in touch ever since. I've spoken to Nat on messenger about the club and was away with James Collins in the summer and he hounded me to sign - so it was an easy sell. He didn't even need to sell it to me to be fair but it was an easy decision.
On his memories playing at Pride Park...
It was loud every single time! I think it was a full house last time I came here and it was deafening. I remember speaking with the boys after the game and we were all like: 'imagine playing here every week?' Little did I know I'd be here so soon after. I'm really looking forward to playing in front of the fans and making Pride Park a fortress.
On being close to home at Derby...
It's nice to be close to home. I've not been close to my parents since I was 16-years-old so to get back 14-years later, they will be able to come to a lot more games and I'll be able to see the rest of my family more which is nice.
On the prospect of pre-season...
I don't think anyone is ever ready for pre-season and from what I've heard it's not going to be easy! Pre-season is what it is though, it's massively important to the upcoming season and to get the conditioning and fitness in. I'm as ready as one can be!
