Derby County star David McGoldrick has admitted he thought he was going to retire before making the move to Pride Park last summer.
Derby County recruited McGoldrick last summer as part of their squad makeover, and he’s proven one of the Rams’ best additions since. The veteran forward has starred this season, managing 19 goals and seven assists in one of his best individual campaigns across his career.
Mainly operating as a striker just in behind the number nine, the 35-year-old has looked a level above the opposition at times, showing the quality that has made him a firm favourite at many of his former clubs.
However, McGoldrick has now revealed there was a spell where he thought his time in the game had come to an end.
As quoted by Derbyshire Live, the former Ipswich Town and Sheffield United man admitted a call from Liam Rosenior changed matters completely ahead of a move to Pride Park. He said:
“There was a time when I was going to call it a day. There were a couple of weeks where I was thinking that’s it for me.
“Suddenly when you start seeing people back for pre-season and you log in to your Instagram and you see the boys back – that’s all I know. It might have been a phase where I was feeling down on myself and I wasn’t putting myself out there as much.
“Liam Rosenior was on at me at the time to come to Derby. As a Nottingham boy, I know all about Derby County, all about their history and it just appealed to me. It suddenly changed like that.”
Relief for the Rams…
Derby County will certainly be pleased that McGoldrick opted against calling it a day on his playing career after his Sheffield United release. He’s been a big hit among supporters and his goals have been vital in helping the Rams in their fight for the play-offs.
It will be hoped his strong form of late can continue through the final stages of the season, with the top-six fight far from over.
As it stands, Derby County sit in 6th place. They’re two points behind Bolton Wanderers with a game in hand but Wycombe Wanderers and Peterborough United are among the sides still holding hope of sneaking into the play-offs before the season’s end.
