Savage - Career on the line

Brighton loanee knows it is make-or-break time

By James Pearson   Last updated: 2nd October 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Savage - Career on the line

Savage: Out to impress

If I come to Brighton and perform poorly my stock goes right down and were do I go from there?

Robbie Savage
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Robbie Savage believes his career could be on the line if he fails to impress while on loan with League One outfit Brighton.

Savage is currently well down Derby's pecking order and has been allowed to leave Pride Park in order to get some match fitness under his belt and rediscover his best form.

The Derby County man has experience of England's third tier with Crewe Alexandra and the former Wales international knows he must grasp his chance of first-team football.

Savage failed to rediscover his form at Derby following his Blackburn switch and the ex-Birmingham City midfielder believes he may have nowhere to turn if he does not shine over the next month.

"I think there's seven games until November 1st and hopefully I can play in every one. Hopefully Derby will do well and not need me back," he told Sky Sports News.

"It's a big test for me, if I come to Brighton and perform poorly my stock goes right down and where do I go from there?

"It's a big month for me. I just want to do well and help push Brighton up the league.

"I played for Crewe and got promotion out of this league. If anything the Premier League is easier because you get more time on the ball, not that I've ever been good on the ball."

Savage has confirmed linking up with former Leicester City manager Micky Adams was a big draw in him moving to the South Coast club.

"I've just got to play, to link up with Micky Adams again and to get a lift. I'm low on confidence and hopefully I'll get some games for Brighton," he continued.

Never performed

"I went (to Derby) in a struggling team in the Premier League and never really performed for them if I'm honest.

"Went back there at the start of the season, struggled for form and I've not been in the team.

"I think the directors are paying the majority of my pay to let me come out on loan which is very good of them. They could easily have asked for a huge fee for me."

Despite plenty of paper talk speculating Savage had fallen out of favour with Derby boss Paul Jewell, the Welsh firebrand only has good words for the ex-Wigan manager.

"The chairman and gaffer have been good to me over the past few weeks. The manager's been talking to me. He's treated me like a professional.

"He could have made me travel away as the 18th or 19th man with the first team, but he didn't. He's looked after me and now he's given me the chance to play a few games and hopefully go back and get in Derby's team."

Savage did have another offer to rival Brighton's in the shape of a player/coach option with Wrexham, but the 33-year-old did not feel the time was right to start winding down his playing career.

"The opportunity was there to go to Wrexham as a player/coach on loan and help with the first team which really did appeal to me.

"It's something I want to do in the future. That could be a possibility in the next couple of years.

"The thing is I'll be under contract at Derby for the next couple of years and the aim is to get back in their team."

Invaluable experience

Brighton boss Adams worked with Savage at Leicester and the former Coventry City manager believes the midfielder will bring invaluable experience to the team.

"We were looking for a bit of experience in certain positions and I made a number of calls and Paul Jewell suggested that Robbie was available," he said.

"Having worked with Robbie before at Leicester City it was a no-brainer as far as I was concerned."

Adams is fully aware of Savage's capabilities and has hinted his one-month deal could be extended if everyone is happy for the loan to continue.

"It's an initial month. We'll see how we do. It's going to benefit hopefully both parties," he continued.

"Robbie will get some games and we benefit from his experience. It's an initial month and we'll see what happens after that.

"I don't expect him to charge around like he did in his Leicester days, but he's got a wealth of experience. He knows the game inside out and hopefully he'll do well for us.

"He is high profile, whether you like him or not. We've got a young squad as well and I hope some of the younger professionals at the club will benefit from his experience and he can pass on a few tips to them."