Former Manchester City striker Paul Dickov has joined the Rams on loan from Leicester City and it seems one of his former team mates may have had a hand in the move.

After much speculation a deal has been done for Dickov to provide Nigel Clough with much needed cover up front and he goes straight into the squad that lines up against Forest on Saturday.

It has even been suggested by mirrorfootball.co.uk that the move came on the back of a personal recommendation from Robbie Savage who played with Dickov at Blackburn. As Robbie is a regular writer for the site perhaps they have the inside word on this one.

The 36 year old striker has been unable to break into the foxes team this season and it seems they are willing to let him sleep with the enemy until at least January next year.

When speaking to the DET Nigel seemed confident Dickov has something to offer the Rams:

"Paul is a hugely experienced player and will fit in perfectly with the team spirit we have in the dressing room at the moment, he knows this division inside out and gives us something different to what we already have at the football club.”

In his long career Dickov has lined up for Arsenal, Man City, Blackburn and Leicester twice. He has been capped by Scotland 10 times scoring 1 goal but has not featured in the international squad since 2004.

He has managed appearances in a grand total of 431 games for a return of 110 goals with his most prolific period being his first spell for Leicester with 32 goals in 89 appearances.

Last season a loan move to Blackpool netted him 6 goals in 11 appearances after only managing 2 in 20 for the foxes.

The loan deal will run until January with the stipulation that he cannot appear in any clashes between the two midlands rivals.

There is no doubt Dickov will bring immense experience to a young squad but it remains to be seen if he can still compete at this level with age and a lack of match fitness against him. The comments from the gaffer suggest he may have been signed as much for what he can bring to the club off the field, as for what he can produce on it.

Fan reaction to the signing so far has been underwhelming but it was not too long ago the same things were being said about a certain Mr Savage. Both players have had long and successful careers, have been leaders for their clubs and now are fighting to extend their football careers.

After many wrote off Robbie he emerged as not only a fan favourite but also a worthy captain of the club. Using that same formula anyone who writes off Dickov at this early stage may do so at their peril.

If Savage did suggest Dickov be signed it is hard to believe that the club captain would do so unless he genuinely believed the player still had something to offer.

Scoring the winner at Forest would be a good place to start.

Photo: Action Images

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