Derby boss Paul Jewell is confident that experience will prove more important than age when his new-look defence begins to gel at Pride Park.Alan Stubbs left Everton to sign an 18-month deal with the Rams on transfer deadline day, while Roy Carroll's drawn-out move from Rangers finally went through with the Northern Ireland international joining until the end of the season.

Both will make their debuts at Birmingham on Saturday and Jewell is delighted to have added their experience to a defence that could be one of the oldest on view in the Premier League this weekend.

Thirty-six-year-old Stubbs will line up alongside Darren Moore, 33, Marc Edworthy, 35, with the 30-year-old Carroll behind them.

Jewell is not concerned about age and knows there is no substitute for experience.

"That Arsenal defence that had Steve Bould and Tony Adams in it didn't do too bad and they didn't have anyone under 30," said the Rams boss.

"Some of my best signings were players of a similar age, players like Matt Jackson, Stuart McCall and Arjan de Zeeuw who went on to become very successful for me (at Wigan).

"Alan is a good defender and a good footballer and I'm very pleased to have him with us. He took some prising away from Everton because David Moyes didn't really want to let him go.

"He will bring great experience and great knowhow to the team and hopefully he will help us between now and the end of the season."

Carroll's move from Scotland was held up while Rangers searched for another goalkeeper but Jewell believes the frustrating wait will be worthwhile.

He is set to replace Wales goalkeeper Lewis Price, who has done well since he replaced the injured Stephen Bywater. The latter has now gone on loan to Ipswich.

"I just feel we need a bit more experience until the end of the season," said Jewell.

"In Roy, we have got a top-class 'keeper and a hungry one."

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