Paul Jewell is confident that he can eventually attract big names to Derby County.

"Of course it hurts me because I'm manager of a football club that's going to be bottom of the league at Christmas and I don't like that," he told The Times. "I had nothing to do with the first 14 [league] games, but I take responsibility now. To have six points in December, it's going to take some massive turnaround. Am I going to get top- class internationals wanting to come here in January? No.

"I want five or six new faces, to freshen it up - I'm used to working amid a lot of noise and big characters at Wigan, I want it more vibrant - and to give this squad some help. Given the right backing, I believe we can attract top-quality players here. You only have to drive up to the gates here [at the palatial Moor Farm training headquarters] to see how impressive it is - I can't wait to get to work every morning. My office is better than my house. The facilities are here, the history's here, the support's here; we just need to get it right on the pitch.

"I don't want to be waving a white flag, but I'm also a realist. In the next two years, Derby County can be in the market for top-quality players. I'm not prone to outlandish predictions, but this club can establish itself in the top ten, the top eight of the Premier League."