Andreas Weimann revealed to The Ram recently just what Gary Rowett told him he needed to get back in his first team – be more positive.
The 26-year-old Austrian wideman has started Derby County’s last three games – helping them to six points from a possible nine – and impressed on the right side of the Rams’ attacking.
“After I hadn’t played for a few games, I went through to see the manager and asked what I needed to do to get myself back in his thinking,” Weimann said.
“All he said to me was to keep training like I have been, but when I do get my chance, I had to be more positive and take players on. I feel like I have taken that on board since coming back into it.
“Any player will tell you it is frustrating. I wasn’t playing as much as I would have liked, but I have just tried to do my best in training and be ready for when I got my next chance.
“I’ve been given that. I have started the last three games and I hope I have done enough to prove that I am good enough to keep it.”
Albeit, Derby’s last outing was a ‘frustrating’ one.
The Rams slipped to a 1-0 defeat against Ipswich Town – their game-in-hand on the rest of the division – on Tuesday night, but Weimann felt Rowett’s side did enough to get something from the match.
He said: “It was very frustrating. We started the game sloppily and they got themselves in front with an early goal.
“After that, they just defended and when we did have our chances, the ball just wouldn’t go in it seemed.
“Their goalkeeper made a great couple of saves, they made big blocks and whilst we didn’t play as well as we know we are capable of, we thought we had done enough to get something from it.”
Derby have been pretty good at showing an immediate reaction this season – time for another one?
“Now it is all about making sure we win against Burton,” Weimann added.
“We’re in a good position and we could have been in an even better position if we had won on Tuesday, but we are still sixth, sitting in those play-offs, and now it’s all about showing a reaction.
“We want to stay in that top six now that we are in there. We have to expect the same against them. Even since I have been here, teams, predominantly, have sat in against us when we are at home.
“We have got to make sure that we are starting better than we did on Tuesday and try and get our noses in front. If we do that, it will be a completely different game.”