DARREN Currie is convinced he can finally make his Premiership dream come true by helping Derby County win promotion.The 32-year-old winger will train with his new team-mates for the first time today after signing on loan from Ipswich Town until the end of the season - and he is in line to make his debut at some point against promotion rivals Cardiff City on Saturday.

By Derek Davis

DARREN Currie is convinced he can finally make his Premiership dream come true by helping Derby County win promotion.

The 32-year-old winger will train with his new team-mates for the first time today after signing on loan from Ipswich Town until the end of the season - and he is in line to make his debut at some point against promotion rivals Cardiff City on Saturday.

Currie likened his move to Pride Park to the day he first moved from Brighton and then scored on his debut for Ipswich against QPR. He said: “This is very similar to when I came to Ipswich and we were so close to getting to the Premiership, only to lose out in the play-offs so narrowly to West Ham.

“This could well be my last opportunity and I'm going to give my absolute all to help Derby get to the Premiership.

“I saw them earn a deserved point against QPR, ironically enough, and the lads were excellent and the crowd was fantastic.

“My impression was that there is a real feeling that they can go up, but no doubt that will be how all the top-six teams will be feeling.

“(Manager) Billy Davies has a strategy of how we can get there and it is up to us to implement that, but you can see how much the lads want it and they kept going to get the draw they deserved.”

The EADT first revealed Davies' interest in Currie at the end of January. Millwall were also keen to take him, but Currie had to tell their manager Willie Donachie that Derby was his destination.

Currie said: “This is a great opportunity for me and it was a very easy decision to make once I was asked.

“Billy Davies believes in me and that has given me great confidence. It is wonderful to go somewhere where you are wanted.

“It is a first-class stadium and I can't wait to get to the training ground, which I hear is outstanding too.”

Currie, whose contract with Ipswich expires in the summer, is looking for a permanent deal with Derby, and boss Davies has spoken about what he expects from last season's e.on/EADT player of the year.

He said: “Darren is a very talented individual and I think he can open a door or two for us in the remaining eight matches.

“He has bags of ability and is excellent at dead-ball situations. I am looking forward to getting him involved in the squad.

“It's now up to Darren. He's the one that is coming here with a great opportunity given the position this club is in. He can go and make a name for himself and show everybody what he can do.

“Who knows where we will be at the end of the season? We will sit down and look at it when we get to that stage.”

The Blues are understood to be interested in taking Whitley Bay striker Lee Kerr on trial after he was recently spotted playing in a reserve match for Newcastle United.