Town head for Derby tomorrow night and that was where fit-again Teddy Bishop made his league debut for the club, starting the game on August 30th 2014 that ended 1-1 and making way for Alex Henshall after 66 minutes.

Bishop remembered: “That was a great day for me and we’ve had a few good results at Derby recently, so I think we can go up there and do a job.

“Tom Lawrence will be playing for them and we saw from the way he played on loan to us last season what a great player he is.

“Derby have a lot of great players but so do we and I think we’ve got to go there, match them and play our game, rather than focus on their game, and I think we’ll do well.

“I suppose Tom and I are a bit similar but I think he’s more direct than I am and can also play in wide areas, although I like to think we do similar kinds of stuff.

“I wasn’t jealous of him at all last season — he’s a really good lad and all the players who come here are the same. To see someone of a similar age doing well last season, I was pleased for him and I enjoyed watching him.”

Bishop, buoyed by his return to action as a 76th minute substitute in Town’s 2-0 defeat at Aston Villa on Saturday, will be looking to add further minutes en route to becoming the regular choice he was before his injury problems interrupted the considerable progress he was making two years ago.

Asked about his favourite position, he replied: “My preference is to play in the middle but I don’t think I even know my best position yet.

“I’ve played in a number of different positions but in the play-off year I was in central midfield when we played 4-4-2 and I think I did well there. If I’m playing I’m happy so I don’t really mind where I have to play.

“I think I could play in a number of positions within the current formation, but it’s all to do with getting my confidence up. Basically, I’ll do whatever the gaffer tells me.

“I just want to get back playing on a regular basis again. I just want to impress the gaffer in training and see where it goes from there.

“Could I play where Martyn Waghorn is playing? I think it would be quite hard to kick him out of the team!”

Excited as he is by his return from injury, Bishop admitted: “There is a nagging feeling at the back of your mind where I’m thinking ‘How long is this comeback going to last?’ But you can’t listen to that, you’ve got to do it yourself and get in the gym. If you feel an ache you get stronger. It’s a mental thing.

“I have a lot of contact with the physios because of all the problems I’ve had. I see them every morning. It’s about preparation for training, doing a lot of soft tissue work, and I do feel good right now.

“There’s a lot of management of the situation from my point of view. You can’t just have an injury, come back and that’s it. You get little niggles along the way that need to be treated but with the management I’ve had from the physios I feel like I can finally get back to playing.

“I love to play exciting football but obviously you can’t always do that. In some games you don’t get the chance but that’s what I will be looking to do if and when I am back in the team.

“I’ve only scored one senior goal so far and that’s disappointing, although I’ve got a few assists as well. I definitely need to get a few more goals. At this level it’s crucial that I add goals to my game.”

Photo: TWTD

PortmanTerrorist added 09:40 - Nov 28 Was easily best player i had seen in a generation coming through the academy and we can wish Bish well and hope he can make the impact on our team and this division his early promise suggested.....but he has been out a loooong time. A Club full of "What ifs" at the moment the biggest is what we might have looked like with a fully fit and flying Bish/Dozzell midfield. Not that MM would have trusted them in there when Skuseee still has 3/4 more years in him apparently. Good luck Teddy. We need you. COYB

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Edmundo added 16:54 - Nov 28 Saw him making mugs of the Derby players on his debut. So tough to have the run of injuries, but it might be the making of him: the clock ticks and you realise that it's a short career in sport. Exciting players needed: here's one straight off the production line. Imagine a team: Bart, Emmanuel, Smith, Webster, Wolfenden, Kenlock, Dozzell, Bishop, Waghorn, Didz, Garner. 6 academy products. Could be the starting line-up with the new manager next season.

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