Currie keen to stay on at Derby

By Chris Bevan

Currie has also been on loan at Coventry this season

On-loan Derby winger Darren Currie hopes to earn a permanent deal at Pride Park when his Ipswich contract ends this summer.

Currie, 32, was on trial with American side LA Galaxy when Rams boss Billy Davies brought him to the Championship leaders for the rest of the season.

"I want my future to be here, working with Billy Davies," he told BBC Sport.

"He has made it clear that if I do what is expected of me I will have a future here - so it is up to me to earn it."

Currie says his time in America was enough for him to realise that the chance of playing alongside David Beckham for Major League Soccer side LA Galaxy was not for him.

He did not have to think twice about signing for the Rams - and is desperate to repay Davies by helping his new side win promotion to the Premiership.

Billy Davies is such a passionate man. You can see why Derby have done so well because he is so hungry for success Darren Currie

"I was out in the US when my agent flew out and told me that Derby were keen to take me," Currie explained.

"I did not have much of a decision to make - they are a great club, they are flying and they wanted to sign me.

"I was joking that I was looking for a flight direct from Los Angeles to Derby. I could not wait to get back."

Currie is at pains to point out that he did not reject Galaxy and is grateful to their coach Frank Yallop for giving him an opportunity in the US.

"It was a mutual agreement in the end," said Currie.

"They were interested in signing me and I was obviously keen to go over and start up a career over there.

"But once I got over there and we started training it just made me realise that I still have so much to offer back in England.

"The passion for the game is not the same as it is in England and I just missed that intensity that goes with three o'clock on a Saturday afternoon. "

And after being out of favour for most of the season with Ipswich, Currie is keen to make up for lost time with Derby.

He has played twice for the Rams since arriving on 15 March and has clicked instantly with Davies.

Currie says it is clear why the Rams are top of the Championship, with just six games left.

"Billy is such a passionate man," he added. "You can see why the team has done so well because he is so hungry for success.

"He is very good at motivating the team and he makes it crystal clear what he wants from us. He is a joy to work for.

"It has been very easy for me to understand what he wants from me and very easy for me to slot in and do a job for him."