Decision Time For Derbs

Blackburn Rovers striker Matt Derbyshire now has to decide what to do with his future and where this lies.

Derbyshire returned to Ewood Park before the season ended after his successful loan spell with Olympiakos and the Greek side are understood to be preparing a £3 million deal to take him back to Greece permanently. Sam Allardyce seems prepared to let Derbyshire leave if the price is right for Rovers but Derbs has to decide what to do, and a lot of this depends on what his first-team chances at Ewood will be like next season.

Derbyshire told the Lancashire Telegraph: "If I am going to play football here then I will be more than happy to stay here, why wouldn't I be?

"But if I am going to be playing more football there then I will be going there.

"I am in this profession to play football, not sit on a subs' bench or play for the reserves. I am at the age now where it is very important I do play football. I have to do that for my career.

"I have been at Blackburn for a long time and I love the club. The fans have been superb to me and still are. But I have to go where is best for my career."

The 23-year-old is a Rovers fan and as such he loves the club but he is also a footballer and unlike many these days isn't happy to just sit around and pick up money for doing nothing, Derbs wants to play and that isn't looking that good for him with Rovers, however, as much as the striker admits he enjoyed his time in Greece and would move to Olympiakos on a permanent basis he says he honestly doesn't know what his next move will be yet but staying at Ewood seems his favoured option (but ONLY if he'll be involved.)

He added: "It was brilliant. I went there to play football, that was the main thing, but I also got the chance to learn a different language and a different culture.

"You don't often get that chance in life but I did and I am really grateful to Olympiakos.

"As a striker I look to score goals, that is all I have ever looked to do, and if I can help the team win games then I am doing my job. It is as simple as that.

"Having said that though I have enjoyed coming back to Ewood and seeing the lads play. Let's be honest, this is still my team.

"I don't know what my future holds and that is being entirely honest. I know Olympiakos are interested but that is about it at the moment."

Personally I still think that Big Sam made this decision for Derbs (and made things pretty clear about his future) when he allowed him to leave for him loan spell in Greece. I'd love Derbs to stay, play and score regularly for Rovers next season but I'm not convinced he'd get the opportunities that he craves?


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