Robbie Savage said the pure joy of playing again justified his move to Derby - even though they slumped to a 12th defeat in their last 13 Premier League games.

Savage, who joined from Blackburn for £1.5m earlier this month, said: "It was 100 per cent the right decision to come here - I can sleep at night because I know it was the right choice.

"Everyone thinks we are going down but playing football every week was the big drive for me.

"I am not the kind of person to pick up thousands of pounds a week and sit on the bench.

"I would rather play week in and week out. It is a battle but I would rather be playing for Derby at the bottom of the league than be sub for Blackburn.

"When you break your leg and have been out for seven months, just to be playing still in the Premier League at 34 is great."

The aim for Derby, according to Savage, is to avoid becoming the worst side in Premier League history.

Sunderland managed 15 points in 2005-06 while Derby have only seven after 23 games.

"Our first priority is to get 15 points because we don't want to be the worst side ever," the Welshman added.