Master plan the key to Rams hopes

David Jones believes Derby can earn promotion to the Premiership if they hold true to the Manchester United master plan.
The 22-year-old Jones, who joined the Rams from United on an initial loan before signing a permanent contract in January, was the toast of the club recently when his two spectacular long-range strikes earned Derby a 2-1 win at Norwich.

He said: ''What we are not doing is getting carried away with ourselves, but there is a confidence permeating the place you also feel when you are at the training ground at United or when you are at Old Trafford.

''As a player, you feel all you have to do is look after your own performance and then the result will take care of itself.
''It is not an arrogance, it is a belief that if you do your job properly then the opposition cannot stop you because you are the side with the better quality.
''It is like that at United and I am feeling that down here.``

Jones added: ''I was chuffed with the goals at Norwich — they were nice finishes and it was a great feeling to get the three points because it was a big game for us.
''We were always looking to take maximum points and we believed we would go down there and do so, even when we went a goal down.
''The second goal in particular was well worked.
''I saw the opportunity to make a run off the striker and Giles Barnes just put it into my path — after that, I stroked it in and it was a nice team goal.``

Jones believes his decision to drop down to the Championship has paid dividends.
''Manchester United have been a massive part of my football life but I had to do what was right for my career, so for me it was an easy decision to sign for Derby,`` he said.

''When you are at United and been a part of things for so long, it is tempting to think your big breakthrough into the first team is just around the corner when the reality is different.

''So I made the decision which was best for my football and it feels great to be playing first team football on a regular basis now.

''There is life after Manchester United.'

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