Derby County forward Chris Martin has hailed Kevin Phillips’ impact on the club since he joined the Championship outfit as part of the coaching set-up.

Phillips, who scored 285 goals in his career which lasted 20 years, was appointed as Paul Clement’s assistant on 17 September 2015.

The 42-year-old enjoyed spells at a number of clubs, including Sunderland, West Brom and Birmingham.

Martin has scored nine goals in 14 appearances this campaign and believes that the arrival of Phillips has helped him.

Speaking to BBC Radio Derby, Martin said:

For a front player he has been very good. With the experience he’s got and the quality he had when he was a player, he’s rubbing that off on the lads. We have done quite a few one-on-one sessions with the front players. Most weeks we are getting two or three sessions of individual work as strikers and wide players working with Kevin and I think that is showing on the pitch with the quality we have going forward. I have a hit a little bit of form goalscoring-wise and managed to add to that with my first international goal.

After a slow start to the season, the Rams have won five of their last six matches. This fine run of form has seen them climb up to sixth in the league and just one point off an automatic promotion spot.

Paul Clement’s side face a trip to Blackburn tomorrow night, where they will be hoping to extend their unbeaten streak to extend to seven matches.