Shay Given feels like he has to prove himself all over again as he takes up his new role as Derby County’s head goalkeeping coach.
The Liffordman has been recruited by new Rams manager Frank Lampard for what is his first coaching role.
Given joined Derby for pre-season training this week as their bid for promotion from the Championship gets underway.
“We want to get the best out of the players and the team, and what you have done as a player just goes out of the window,” 42-year-old Given said.
“We are new to it, we have played for so many years but we want to park that to one side and we want to show the people that we are good coaches.”
Given will be working with goalkeepers Scott Carson, Jonathan Mitchell and Kelle Roos.
He said: “We want to try and keep them at ease because it can be quite a pressure situation, and I think that does help as well.
“I’ve played against Scotty and it’s great to see him playing well, and I just want to keep helping him to improve, along with Mitch and Kelle, who looked very good this morning.
“I’ve still got to sit down with them individually to see what they want to get out of the season, their goals and what they feel they need to improve.
“It’s my job to make them better.”
Lampard succeeded Gary Rowett at the end of May as boss at Pride Park.
He was quick to recruit Given, capped 134 times by the Republic of Ireland during a stellar career.
Given has been undertaking his badges recently and believes he can have an impact on not just the goalkeepers at his new club.
He said; “I think I can help the outfield players as well, with advice and the things that I’ve been through during my career and hopefully we can work together as well.
“The Goalkeeping A Licence doesn’t just help with the basics of goalkeeping, it’s also about working with outfield players as a defensive unit, set plays and playing out from the back.”
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