DERBY County manager Paul Jewell has leapt to the defence of Robbie Savage after the former Blackburn Rovers midfielder has come under fire for some lacklustre performances.

Jewell admits his new skipper has been poor since he joined the Rams from Rovers in a £1.5m deal last month, but the County boss insists that is because the 33-year-old has been plagued by a series of niggly injuries.

Savage has made seven appearances for his new club so far, and has yet to sample a win, and Jewell has hinted he may even drop the Welshman for this weekend's clash with Sunderland, because he feels he needs time out to regain some form and fitness.

The Derby boss said: "Robbie seems to be carrying one injury after another.

"We have not seen the best of him by a long way and I think his performances are going to attract criticism - there is no way he has played well.

"He is very low on confidence. He is almost trying too hard and is not doing one thing or the other. He is playing with niggling injuries, when maybe he shouldn't be.

"I think Robbie is trying to take too much on. He doesn't want to say he is injured and make it look like he is bailing out, I can see that.

"Maybe we will have to have a look at giving him a rest and getting him properly fit, but he will want to play.

"He will be an effective player for us, I have no doubt about that. At the moment, like a few other players, he is ineffective, but in his defence there are mitigating circumstances."