"I'm Ever So Proud To Play For This Club"

Martyn Waghorn said he is proud to play for Derby County and to be part of a 'special' Rams squad.

The Rams striker arrived at Pride Park Stadium last summer as one of nine new signings under new manager Frank Lampard.

Fast forward nine months, though he is disappointed to fall at the last hurdle against Aston Villa in the Play-Off Final at Wembley Stadium, Waghorn was bursting with pride of a team that has grown together and shown phenomenal character throughout the season.

In a season where the Rams beat Manchester United in their own backyard in the Carabao Cup, came from behind to take down champions Norwich City 4-3 at Carrow Road in tremendous fashion after the floodlights failed, put in a performance to be proud of at Stamford Bridge in a 3-2 loss against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup and stormed back from 2-0 behind against Leeds United to reach the Play-Off Final, Waghorn admitting that falling at the last step against Aston Villa was painful.

“We are hugely disappointed,” the forward told RamsTV following the Play-Off Final.

“To get this far, after this season where we have had highs and we have had the lows, it is tough. But as a team we have come on so much.

“I’m ever so proud to play for this club and be part of this team with what we have actually done this year. To come up short on a day like this hurts a lot.”

He added: “I don’t think there was really much in the game, we probably conceded at the wrong time in the first-half which always sets you back.

“The strength and the character that this team has got is phenomenal. We have done it all season, we have come back from worse positions and maybe in the second-half we just ran out of time.”

A ‘never say die’ attitude has been on display numerous times this season as they fought hard to clinch the last play-off spot on the final day of the season and then overcome Leeds over two legs to book their place at Wembley.

Waghorn credited Lampard and the mentality he has brought to the club since his arrival for bringing together the squad to have such a close bond and create a winning mentality that is based on hard work for each other.

The 29-year-old said he has loved every moment of the season with his team-mates and is already excited to get back to work to go a step further next season.

“We have got this attitude that the gaffer has instilled in us,” Waghorn explained.

“From day one since I came in you know that he is a born leader, he is a winner and he wants to achieve as much as he can and that is no different as a manager.

“When I first signed it was all about winning, gaining promotion and becoming a better player, better person and I feel like I have done a lot of that. I have learned ever so much off the staff, off the players and what we have got as a group is something special.

“I have said it all season, I thoroughly enjoy coming into work day-in-day-out. It is enjoyable, it’s fun but it is hard. I have learned so much and I am chomping at the bit already to get back and put this right next year.”