Matt Clarke has said he has had to find satisfaction in his work in a different way this season.
The defender is on a second consecutive season-long loan with Championship side Derby County, who lifted themselves out of the relegation zone last night with a 4-0 win at Birmingham City.
After nearly finishing in the play-off places last season, and helping Portsmouth win promotion from League Two earlier in his career, Clarke is facing a different challenge.
“I've been quite lucky that throughout my career I have been fighting it out for the top spots in leagues and trying to achieve things. But when you're near the bottom it's a completely different challenge, the satisfaction now comes from pulling ourselves away from danger.
“But it's a challenge and a test that as a player you want to put yourself under. I am still loving every minute, still loving my football.
Confirmation on Matt Clarke's header at the end of the first-half not quite crossing the line...👇
— Derby County (@dcfcofficial) December 29, 2020
🔵 0-3 🐏 #BCFCvDCFC https://t.co/qvLI1g28Wf pic.twitter.com/EKeewntlYm
“The Championship is crazy. You will see a team doing well and then all of a suddenly they lose two or three on the bounce and are struggling. That's the beauty of the league.
“We started the season poorly but we still went into games feeling like we could beat anyone, even though we were in a bad way.”
An ever present in Wayne Rooney's team, the 24-year-old believes he is still developing despite the Rams' lowly position.
“Results are the be all and end all in football, but you have to look at how you are personally progressing.
“There has been some really positive forward steps for me ability-wise. There are things that I am doing now that I wasn't doing at this point last season.”