The 22-year-old is determined to force his way ahead of Jason Roberts and Benni McCarthy as Ince's preferred foil for Roque Santa Cruz this season.

"I'd like to think I'll take another step up this season," Derbyshire told the Lancashire Evening Telegraph.

"For myself, it's important that I play football, because as part of my learning curve, I need to be playing. If I don't play, I'm not learning.

"Obviously, I would love to be played in my position, which is centre-forward. I really hope the manager sees it that way, and not as a winger, because a lot of my movement is in and around the box and I'd like to think I'm a decent finisher as well.

"If I've got a job to do on the wing, I'll try my best and I'll do as much work as I can for the team and manager. But I see myself as a forward and I'd love to be in and around the front two."