There have been so many questions about where certain players stand at Derby County that it was nice to get some answers this week.

Robbie Savage is fighting for his Rams career after Paul Jewell dropped him down the playing pecking order. Reports have stated Savage was unimpressed at not being named in the starting line up for recent friendlies on top of losing the captaincy. On top of these developments there were some rumblings the Foxes were interested in bringing Robbie home to add to their ex-derby players collection. So far both clubs have denied such a move is on the cards.

It appears he has been suitably punished for his attitude and has to prove his commitment before he will be returned to the team sheet. Considering Savage is one of Jewell’s own signings and not an inherited player, this is a hard line that I applaud. It seems Jewell is willing to back up his recent tough talk with actions. This season as he tries to build a hardened unit who are committed to a unified campaign talk will be cheap and results will mean everything.

Mile Sterjovski and Dean Leacock have small injuries that kept them from appearing in recent games even though there was quite a bit of fan speculation as to where they had disappeared too. They may be fit for the opening game of the season but I would be surprised if either starts the game with little match practice under their belts.

Gary Teale looks like being given the chance to fight for his position in the squad and that is probably a good thing considering he has shown he can be a handy player when firing. He showed class at various times last season in a higher league but more often than not after making a probing run he would provide a poor cross or pass. His past under Jewell may have saved his Rams career and will be a handy squad player as the season gets deeper.

With the one month loan of Camara to Blackpool (am I the only one puzzled he got squad number ‘3’?) their only seems to be two players whose futures are still under a cloud. Eddie Lewis has seen some pre-season action as is the more likely of the two to remain on the Rams list but Andy Todd is missing ‘not’ in action. It seems no once has come in for the once controversial and talented player. I would expect a loan signing very soon with teams settling their squads, I would be surprised to see him in a Rams shirt again but stranger things have happened…. especially at DCFC.

Finally Derby have two players at the Olympic Games in the shape of Ruben Zadkovich & Benny Feilhaber for Australia and the U.S.A respectively. Zadkovich will be a key member of the Aussie midfield playing on the right and Feilhaber is most likely to begin his campaign as a substitute. Here’s hoping by the end of the games Benny has a starting position and some much needed form. Both their campaigns kicked off on Thursday and I am sure all Rams fans wish them the best of luck!

As a tribute to our Olympic representative i have included a link for website 'theoffsiderules' who recently posted a video of Benny (without a single jet in sight) miming to the Jordin Sparks hit 'No Air'. Finally we can see why Billy was so keen to sign him and with facial expressions like this, Jim Carrey may be soon out of work.

http://theoffsiderules.blogspot.com/2008/08/video-benny-feilhaber-is-having-trouble.html

Now back to football....!

As Saturday closes in, things are getting exciting with so much unfolding for the club especially so many new faces on the park. When the announcement of the team sheet will hold as much interest as any other news before kick off, you have to wonder if the game will be able to live up to the pre-season drama the club has once again encountered.

A win will do a lot to help relegate politics and unsettled players to the back of our minds… for the time being anyway.

Photo: Action Images

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