Wayne Rooney believes Derby County are making progress in their performances as they look to climb up the Sky Bet Championship table.
Rooney is currently leading Derby’s coaching team while the search for Phillip Cocu’s successor continues following the Dutchman’s departure last month.
He has overseen the Rams’ last two matches, which have ended in 1-1 draws at home to Wycombe Wanderers and Coventry City.
Derby have taken the lead in both games but have been unable to hold on to claim all three points, but Rooney is not disheartened.
The Rams are back in Championship action on Saturday when they head to Millwall (3pm kick-off) and the 35-year-old is keen to build on the side’s successive draws at The Den.
“I thought on Tuesday against Coventry the performance was very good,” Rooney told RamsTV.
“I was pleased with a lot of things the players did and everything they gave was great again.
"It was a shame we did not get the three points, but I think certainly progress has been made.
“Now it is obviously about trying to get that win now.”
He added: “I think you can see it in the players in how they are playing with that freedom and we are creating chances. That is a big improvement on recent games, so it is good we are having opportunities at goal and obviously we have scored in the last two games.
“I still think the second goal in games is required, so we need to try and do that now.”
Rooney is expecting a tough assignment against Gary Rowett’s side, who sit 13th in the table.
The Lions, who will have around 2,000 supporters at The Den as they are in a COVID-19 Tier 2 area, have shown differing styles of play this season.
Regardless of how they line up, Rooney is looking forward to seeing how his side handle the challenge.
Derby will make the journey south with happy memories of Millwall’s home ground after claiming a 3-2 victory at The Den in June, in their first game back in action following the original COVID-19 outbreak in March.
“It will be a difficult game,” Rooney said. “I think certainly Millwall away is a tough game anyway and fans are back in the stadium too, which I think will be great for everyone to have fans in.
“Millwall are a little bit different to last year; they were a bit more direct before and I think now they have mixed it up a little bit; they can go direct or they try and play as well.
“It is a game we will prepare for and we will be ready.”
On fans beginning to return to stadiums, Rooney added: “I think for everyone really, all the clubs and fans around the country it will be great to have fans in there.
“It will create and make a better atmosphere at the game and I am pleased they are back. Hopefully we can get some fans back in our stadium soon as well. I think for the players and everyone involved in the game it is certainly better to have fans in.”