McClaren on Derby return

Steve McClaren has discussed his return to manage Derby County on the EFL Weekly Podcast and reflected on his first spell at the iPro Stadium.

The former Newcastle manager made a shock return to the Rams last week, just 17 months after being dismissed by the Sky Bet Championship club, replacing Nigel Pearson who had been appointed in the summer.

Pearson left with Derby just above the relegation places and only one league win to their name but McClaren had no hesitation in returning to the club.

“[On hesitation to come back] No not really. The club has always been close to my heart,” he told Jonathan Oakes on the EFL Weekly Podcast. 

“I’ve been a player, an assistant and managed here two years ago. It ended abruptly, but to get the opportunity to return, I am very grateful. It gives me an opportunity and a huge challenge to sort out some unfinished business.

“It has been very hectic and things have happened so quickly. It’s really just been a case of meeting Mel Morris and Sam Rush on Wednesday evening and on Thursday morning, completing the deal and getting on with training.

“We were concentrating on Leeds, then Brentford and now concentrating on Huddersfield so it’s a case of straight in, head down, three games and no time to think.

“Coming back in, it was a little bit like coming in the first time. I think the team was more established, the platform was there and there was a lot to build on.

“Now I think we have to build completely from the beginning and that is harder. You have to build the social cohesion, the pass cohesion and we have to …

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