Clough hopeful on Wood

Rams boss says deal is in place for All Whites striker

Last updated: 2nd September 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Clough hopeful on Wood

Wood: Rams target

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Derby County manager Nigel Clough has revealed the club have a strong chance of landing West Brom striker Chris Wood on loan.

The 18-year-old forward caught the eye whilst playing for New Zealand in the World Cup this summer, and the Rams were on the verge of signing the youngster before the transfer window closed on Tuesday.

However, with West Brom suffering recent injuries to Roman Bednar and Ishmael Miller, Wood was given a bench role for the clash with Liverpool on Sunday.

Clough still holds strong hope of bringing Wood to Pride Park, as long as the Baggies' injury problems clear up.

"We are looking to go straight back into the loan market when it opens again," he told the Derby Telegraph.

"We were very close to getting somebody in on loan. We had agreed the move and we will revisit that one. We will also chase up a few other enquiries once the window opens.

"We got quite a way down the road with West Brom and with Chris (Wood) as well - and we hope that as soon as West Brom's injuries clear up, we will be able to get him in.

"I think he fits the mould of the younger players we have. He is inexperienced but he has played international football.

Pattern

"It is a pattern we are trying to follow of young, hungrier players. We will get frustrating times like Saturday when we were two up against Queens Park Rangers and when more experienced players might have seen the game out but the only way to get that experience is by going through it."

Rob Hulse has agreed a move to QPR, but Derby have brought in Spanish striker Alberto Bueno on a season-long loan from Real Valladolid and boss Clough reckons one new face will be sufficient.

"By adding Bueno and with Chris Porter getting fit now, the pressure is off a little bit but we just need may be another one in," he added.

"Ideally, we would like somebody else in before our next game but they have to be right and somebody we want to put in the team.

"They have to be better than what we have got. And this isn't a daft thing to say but they have to be better than Dean Moxey.

"His two performances up front - we wouldn't play him there for 40 games - have been exceptionally good.

"The last thing we want is to bring somebody in, maybe from the Premiership, who doesn't give it that because we would then be worse off."