Jewell is willing martyr for sake of success next season

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The Derby County manager Paul Jewell is willing to suffer "the humiliation, the pain, the abuse" he is currently enduring if it means success next season. The already-relegated Rams are poised to become the worst team in Premier League history on the back of a 28-match winless streak.

Jewell is happy to concede many of the problems of late are of his own making as he has allowed nine players to leave on loan deals. However, appreciating Derby were as good as down a few weeks ago, the 43-year-old opted to take drastic measures in an attempt to build for next season. "Injuries and loans mean our squad is very stretched, but the loan scenario is down to me," Jewell said. "I have probably put myself under a bit of pressure by letting all these players go out on loan. But the reason I've done that is I'm looking ahead because all the money we save, the loan fees we get in, go towards my budget for next year.

"I would rather have 11 points this year and suffer the abuse, the humiliation, and then be able to have a concerted effort. As much as I hate losing, as much as I hate being beaten at home and being bottom of the League, if I can take this pain now and put it towards a stronger push next year, I'll take it."

Jewell's injury situation is due to ease as Mile Sterjovski and Marc Edworthy are poised to return for Saturday's game with West Ham at Upton Park. The midfielder Sterjovski limped out of a 1-0 defeat at Everton nine days ago with an Achilles injury, while the defender Edworthy has been out since mid-March with a rib injury sustained in his 500th career appearance in the 1-0 home defeat to Manchester United.