Danny Murphy believes Chris Powell is the perfect candidate for Derby County FC job

Ex-Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy believes that Derby County already have a readymade replacement for Nigel Pearson in the form of Chris Powell

There was a lot of optimism surrounding Derby County this summer following the appointment of Nigel Pearson as manager but things have not quite turned out in the manner to which the Rams would have wanted so far.

Pearson managed to guide Derby to only a solitary victory during the nine matches he was in charge of and just 3 hours ahead of the Rams’ Championship encounter against Cardiff City, the 53-year-old was suspended under mysterious circumstances by the club.

It has been claimed that Pearson was suspended after a falling out with Derby owner Mel Morris and while the ex-Leicester boss remains under investigation; many now expect the axe to fall on the former Middlesbrough defender.

Powell backed for permanent Derby job

The likes of Steve McClaren and David Wagner have been seen as potential replacements for Pearson but the former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy believes that the Rams already possess a readymade successor in the form of assistant manager Chris Powell.

Powell has been placed in temporary charge of the club while the investigation is going on and the 47-year-old managed to guide Derby to victory against Cardiff in midweek.

Murphy is a big fan of Powell and has now gone on to state that the ex-Charlton boss would not be a bad choice for Derby. He said, “What a great ready-made replacement, by the way. (He was) treated so harshly at Charlton – did alright at Huddersfield as well.

“Super guy, but don’t think that he can’t be tough just because he’s such a nice fella. He’s got a steely side – you wouldn’t want to cross him. It’s his to lose now, if he goes on a four-five game winning streak I think they’ll give him the job don’t you?”