Kieran Dowell has targeted a place in the Premier League with his new club Derby County.
On Thursday, the Everton youngster agreed a season long loan deal to become new Rams boss Phillip Cocu’s first summer signing joining the rest of the squad on their pre-season trip to the IMG Academy in Florida.
Dowell is no stranger to the East Midlands, having spent the 2017/18 campaign on loan at Nottingham Forest, where he bagged 10 goals before moving onto Sheffield United last term, helping the Blades win promotion to the top flight.
And now the 21-year-old hopes to be given a platform to showcase the talents which have made him one of the brightest prospects in English football.
“My last two loans (at Sheffield United and Nottingham Forest) have been brilliant, I really enjoyed them and now I want the same kind of platform to just go and play,” he told Rams TV.
"I think with this manager (Phillip Cocu) and with this club, and the success that they have nearly had in the past few years, I feel like they are in that good position to go and push again and get promoted - that is what I want to do with them.
“I’ve learned that the most consistent teams are the most successful.
"Sheffield United were brilliant at seeing out games. I’m a young lad but I was part of a promotion so I’ve got that under my belt now and I feel that is going to benefit me lots.”
Like Sabri Lamouchi at the City Ground, the Rams are getting to grips with a new continental manager with a fine playing pedigree, and Dowell admits working under the former Barcelona and PSV star is something to relish.
"He (Cocu) has got great pedigree in the game,” said the England Under-21 international.
"He won three titles in four years at PSV, so he is a winner, and that's what I like.
"The Dutch are great tacticians, as well, and with the playing career he had (at PSV and Barcelona, and more than 100 appearances for Holland), he has got a lot he can pass on."
