Jason Shackell at Derby: Defender explains reasons for Burnley exit

Derby used their Sky Bet Transfer Fund windfall to bring Jason Shackell back to the club from Burnley. Adam Bate caught up with the experienced defender to discuss Sean Dyche, the Premier League and why he thinks the Rams can get it right in 2015/16 under Paul Clement...

"The lads have been great so far but I’m sure that once I’ve got my feet under the table they’ll give me a bit of stick,” says Jason Shackell. Derby’s new signing has returned to the club in a deal made possible thanks to the £250,000 Sky Bet Transfer Fund - and a £1 bet by Rams fan Richard Jones.

"It’s great that supporters can play their part in helping the club to sign someone," Shackell tells Sky Sports. "I just have to say a big thank you to Richard because that has helped bring me back to the club. And it feels great to be back."

The 31-year-old centre-back returns to the club where he was an ever-present for one season in 2011/12, but after a three-year stay at Burnley that took him to the Premier League and back, he rejoins a very different Derby team to the one he left.

"It’s different," he adds. "The training centre has been upgraded so that has changed and obviously the players have changed a lot. I think Jeff Hendricks, Craig Bryson and Jake Buxton are the only ones who are here from before.” Even midfield star Will Hughes started just once that season.

"Will was just breaking through back then. He’s had a phenomenal couple of years. You can just see it in training how much he has grown since I was last here. He’s a very talented player and Derby are lucky to have him."

Hughes’ progress since then has been hugely impressive but the more experienced Shackell has been learning too. He credits Burnley boss Sean Dyche for improving his defensive awareness and giving him the chance to test himself against Premier League strikers.

"I definitely think I’m coming back a better player," says Shackell, whose previous top-flight experience amounted to 11 games with relegated Norwich in the 2004/05 season. "It’s not just playing in the Premier League that’s done that.

"I’ve worked under Sean for the past two or three years and he’s made me a better defender than the one who left Derby.” Dyche’s words upon Shackell’s exit – claiming the move was "money-motivated" – could have soured their relationship but the player doesn’t see it that way.

"Sean has to say what he has to say for himself and the club," he explains. "That’s fine with me because we had a great working relationship and I’ve got a lot of respect for Sean. I’m sure he’ll go on to great things because he’s an excellent manager.

"But I joined Derby for lots of reasons, to be honest. First and foremost, I enjoyed my time here before and wanted to come back and be successful. I love the place and the fans turn up every week. And obviously, Derby are having a real go by signing a good few players. It’s a very talented squad."

It was a tough year but it was also a great year because I learned a lot and I enjoyed it. It’s a shame we couldn’t quite stick in there. I had a taste of it last year and I want to have another crack at it with Derby. This club wants to be in the Premier League and I’m no different.

Indeed, the bookies rate Derby as favourites to win the Championship but to do so they must shrug off a disastrous finale to last season that saw them win only two of their last 13 matches and miss out on the play-offs by one point.  A hangover from that disappointment would be understandable.

However, Shackell sees little sign of it so far. "It was tough and, for whatever reason, it happened. But the lads all look fired up and ready to go. There’s a buzz around the training ground. There’s a lot of expectation on our shoulders but that’s something you’ve got to look forward to playing with."

New Derby coach Paul Clement knows a thing or two about such pressure having arrived from his assistant role at Real Madrid and his presence on the training ground has surely contributed to that feeling of freshness around the club.

"I’m really looking forward to working with him," says Shackell. "This is someone who has coached some of the best players at some of the biggest clubs in the world. He’s obviously got a lot of knowledge and that’s something I’ll look to pick up. Hopefully I can learn and keep improving."

While Clement is new to the league, Shackell has played in promotion-winning campaigns for Norwich, Wolves and Burnley. So what does it take to succeed in the Championship? “Obviously you need to have talent,” he says. “Coming here, they’ve got an abundance of that.

"But you can have all the talent in the world and if you don’t turn up on a Saturday, work hard and put your body on the line then you’re not going to get the results. It’s a tough league. There are no easy games and I know that sounds like a cliché but there really aren’t.

"We need to be up for the challenge and be ready for a long, hard season. As long as we are up for the physically demanding side of the game then the talent should shine through and I’m sure we’ll be there or thereabouts."

Shackell and Burnley showed that appetite from the outset in winning 13 of their first 17 games in 2013/14 and with expectations so high at Derby a positive start could be crucial. "Every team wants to start well," adds Shackell, "because it breeds confidence and it all starts with Bolton away on the eighth of August."

But as every Derby fan knows to their cost, it’s how you finish the season that really matters. With Jason Shackell back in the ranks, maybe Richard Jones could be tempted into placing another bet – that the Rams now have the character as well as the quality to see the job through this time around.

Sky Bet, the Title Sponsor of the Football League, have installed several special markets following the signing of Shackell.

They make him 5/6 to score two or more goals for Derby this season, and 50/1 to score five or more.

To bet, go to http://www.skybet.com/football/specials/derby-specials