Nick Blackman has revealed his determination to make his mark in a Derby County shirt.

Blackman, 26, joined Derby from fellow Sky Bet Championship side Reading back in January of this year for an undisclosed fee after scoring 13 times in the first half of the season.





He made 17 appearances in the second half of the 2015/16 campaign and was restricted to just seven starts.





The forward admits that his first few months with the Rams ‘didn’t quite work out’, but that’s something he’s determined to put right this time around.





Under new Manager Nigel Pearson, Blackman is relishing the prospect of a fresh opportunity to impress.





Blackman told Rams Player HD at Derby’s training camp in Portugal: “I want to get fit as I possibly can and take that into the season.





“I’ve got to show people what I am capable of. I came in last January and it didn’t quite work for me for a few different factors.





“We’re at the pre-season stage now and I’m working hard, hopefully I can show people what I am about personally and we can do the same as a team also.”





He added: “The first thing the manager said to us was that this is a fresh start for everyone, so we’re all keen to impress.”





Derby arrived in the Algarve for their week-long stay in Portugal on Monday night before taking in their first training session at 9am prompt the following morning.





After reporting back for pre-season at the start of last week, Blackman says the players are being put through their paces by Pearson and his staff.





As the build-up to the new season intensifies, Blackman says the training camp is a good opportunity for the squad to enhance their togetherness as well as put in plenty of work on the training pitches.





He said: “It felt hotter than whatever the temperate was out there – but the lads are enjoying working with the new coaching staff and are giving it everything.





“We’re doing a lot of hard yards at the moment with a lot of running, but I am sure as the days turn into weeks the gaffer will implement his style more and more.





“This is an important time, all the boys know we have to put in plenty of hard work now to give ourselves a base to build and maintain, alongside some good results as well.”





He added: “It is great to be out here with the boys and hopefully we will have a big season.





“It’s a good bonding time to be together and living as a group for a week.”













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