JEFF HENDRICK had no hesitation about returning to Derby County – despite turning down other moves.
Hendrick, 33, has been out of football since last summer when his Newcastle United contract expired.
The 79-times capped Ireland midfielder had last played for them in December 2021 but had since spent time on loan at QPR, Reading and Sheffield Wednesday.
Although he had turned down other offers, he was swayed by his former teammate and Ireland coach John Eustace’s appeal to try to help the Rams avoid relegation.
He previously had eight years with the club, prior to joining Burnley in 2016.
Hendrick said: “Once I got the call, in my head and my heart it was a ‘yeah’.
“I was away with my partner, when I got a text saying the manager has been in touch and asking where’s my fitness at and where’s my head at.
“I turned some things down over the summer and January which didn’t feel right, didn’t excite me. Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t turning down hundreds of stuff
“But the minute Derby came in, it felt right straight away. It’s been nice seeing the familiar faces, who took me in when I was so young and looked after me.”
Based outside London, the midfielder believes he will have something to offer once he’s back up to speed.
He has played just 14 minutes of first-team football since December 2023.
He said: “I’m not fully fit, you can’t be unless you’re training and playing games but I hold myself to a high standard with a certain level of fitness.
“I’ve been more hands-on at home family-wise, going to the gym. I’ve got a new hobby padel, I’ve been taking little trips away.
“I didn’t think I’d run as much as I have been, you do so many pre-seasons thinking ‘I’m not enjoying this’ but then you come out of it and I was just doing it for myself, as it’s a hobby staying fit.
“I was working my daily calendar more around my family but making sure I was going to gym and getting better at padel.
“After the first couple of days, I’ve been stiff but I’ve felt ok, it’s just getting used to striking ball again, twisting, turning and now I’m itching to get more training sessions under my belt.
“If I didn’t think I’d bring something there’d be no point in me coming up, being away from family.
“I played with John, I worked under him at QPR and with Ireland so we know each other, one of the things I said to him on the phone was ‘what do you want from me?’
“He said ‘just be yourself, I know what you’re like from playing with and coaching you’ so that was nice to hear, I must have done something right.”
Derby are bottom of the Championship, seven points from safety with just 11 games left.
