Robbie Savage hopes his hatred of losing will rub off on his new Derby team-mates after he completed his move to the Barclays Premier League's rock-bottom club for an initial £1.5million.

Even optimist Savage accepts he has probably exchanged the chance of UEFA Cup football with Blackburn for next season in the Coca-Cola Championship but insists the Rams can fulfil his longer-term ambitions.

The 33-year-old, who has agreed a two-and-a-half year contract, said: "I've never played in a promotion-winning side and I am sure I will do that at Derby if we do go down this season.

"I have walked away from European football with Blackburn because the manager admitted I might not play as much as I would like. Paul Jewell showed he wanted me and I am delighted to come."

Jewell's men currently languish 10 points off improbable survival with 16 league defeats and just one solitary victory from their below-par campaign to date.

And Savage admitted: "I take losing to heart. When I go home after a defeat I don't speak to the wife for the evening.

Honestly, I'm terrible. I just love winning football matches.

"But realistically if we can win a few more and go down fighting and not with a whimper, that will count for a lot.

"Obviously it looks like Derby will be playing Championship football next year but there's a way of going down and that will really help us as we regroup for next season wherever we are."

Boss Jewell is clearly intent on fulfilling his new midfielder's immediate goals with two new players, former Tottenham star Hossam Ghaly and goalkeeper Roy Carroll, poised to sign before Saturday's clash with Wigan.

Ghaly has been at the Rams training ground this week and is awaiting a work permit, while Jewell has admitted making contact with Rangers boss Walter Smith over Carroll in a bid to solve his goalkeeping problems.

Jewell said: "The chairman has spoken to his agent and Walter Smith and hopefully we can get that one over the line today or tomorrow. If he comes,

Roy Carroll is a top-class goalkeeper."

Like Savage, Jewell admits his side have probably missed their chance at survival but his desire to bring in more new blood following the swoop for former Newcastle star Laurent Robert bodes well.

And Jewell hailed Welshman Savage as just the sort of player he needs to inject more pride and passion back into his beleaguered side - starting against Jewell's former club this weekend.

Jewell said: "Robbie's reputation as being battling and competitive doesn't do his ability as a footballer justice. He's a really good footballer as well.

"He's enthusiastic, he's a really good player and I'm really pleased to have him here. The reason I've come here is a long-term plan and the same with Robbie."

Savage earned a notorious reputation amongst Rams fans during his spell with bitter local rivals Leicester but insists he is relishing the challenge of winning his new supporters over.

"I've never been booed by the home fans before and that might happen," Savage joked. "But seriously I will give my best and thrive on the challenge. If that is not good enough at the end of the day I will not lose any sleep over it."

Robbie Savage Factfile

1974: Born in Wrexham, north Wales on October 18.

1993: Signs first professional contract with Manchester United, but fails to make any first-team appearances at Old Trafford.

1994: July - Joins Crewe on a free transfer.

1996: Makes his international debut for Wales as a substitute against Albania.

1997: August - After 95 appearances and 11 goals for Alex, signs for Leicester in a £400,000 deal.

1998: May - Leicester finish 10th in the Premier League in Savage's first season at Filbert Street.

September - Sent home from the Wales team hotel prior to a Euro 2000 qualifying match against Italy for throwing away a shirt belonging to Italian legend Paolo Maldini.

1999: February - Signs a new contract with Leicester until 2001.

March - Part of Leicester side which loses Worthington Cup final to Tottenham. The match is goalless when Savage is substituted in the 89th minute, but a minute later Allan Nielsen scored the only goal to win it for Spurs. Savage incurs wrath of Spurs fans and players for making the most of a challenge from Justin Edinburgh, who is sent off.

May - Leicester finish 10th in the Premier League table again.

2000: March - Wins League Cup with Leicester as the Foxes beat Tranmere 2-1 in the final.

Extends contract with City until 2003.

May - Leicester finish eighth in the Premier League.

2001: May - Leicester finish 13th after a slump towards the end of the season.

September - Finds himself in the middle of a fight at Derby after he celebrates the award of a penalty. He reveals in the News of the World that he has been receiving hate mail since the incident with Edinburgh two years before.

2002: April - Fined two weeks' wages for using the toilet in the referees' dressing-room before a game against Aston Villa. The FA charge him with improper conduct.

May - The Foxes are relegated, finishing bottom after a disastrous season.

May 30 - Signs for newly-promoted Premier League side Birmingham for £1.25million.

August 16 - Fined £10,000 by the FA for his April antics.

October - Plays for Wales in their 2-1 win over Italy in a World Cup qualifier at the Millennium Stadium.

November - Wales threaten to invoke FIFA four-day rule to prevent Savage playing in Premier League match against Fulham before a World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan. Savage does play for his club and picks up a groin injury which rules him out of the Wales game.

2003: March - Savage is blamed for inciting Dion Dublin into the headbutt which got the Aston Villa player sent off during the Birmingham derby at Villa Park, which City won 2-0. Death threats are posted on Savage's website.

November - Plays in both legs of Wales' Euro 2004 qualifying play-off against Russia, with Mark Hughes' side losing 1-0 on aggregate.

2004: May - Undergoes surgery to cure a back problem.

July - Birmingham owner David Sullivan puts a £3.5million price tag on Robbie Savage and labelled a £2.5million offer from Everton as a "joke".

Signs new four-year deal with Birmingham.

August - Banned for three games after being charged with violent conduct for an elbow on Mateja Kezman in Birmingham's 1-0 defeat to Chelsea at St Andrews'.

September - Sent off after just nine minutes of Wales' World Cup qualifier against Northern Ireland, meaning he will miss the match against England Old Trafford.

December 21 - Admits former boss Mark Hughes has made a bid to take him to Blackburn but insists "it's not up to me".

December 23 - Blackburn manager Mark Hughes confirms his club has made a bid of in excess of £2million for Savage.

December 30 - Savage claims "family problems" have forced him to consider a move away from Birmingham. Claims he is "piggy in the middle" between his current club and Blackburn.

2005: January 4 - Axed from the Birmingham line-up for the home Premier League clash with Bolton.

January 6 - Makes an appearance for Birmingham reserves and is booed by fans in the 1-1 draw with Newcastle.

January 19 - Completes move to Blackburn for a fee believed to be around £3million.

March - Retires from international football after being dropped by new manager John Toshack.

2007: Jan 23 - Breaks his leg in a 2-1 defeat to Watford, ending his season.

2008: Jan 4 - Derby boss Paul Jewell confirmed he was interested in bringing the midfielder to Pride Park.

Jan 8 - Derby agree a fee with Blackburn for the player.

Jan 9 - Completes a £1.5million move to Derby, signing a two-and-a-half-year deal with the Rams.

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