Derby midfielder Robbie Savage has revealed he tried to engineer a return to former club Leicester last season.

The former Wales international midfielder, who played for City between 1997 and 2002, is set to return to Leicester as Derby captain on Saturday when the two Midlands rivals clash in the Championship at the Walkers Stadium.

A year ago Savage's County career was in tatters after he was cast aside by former manager Paul Jewell. The 34-year-old wanted to rejoin Leicester and claims that Foxes chairman Milan Mandaric was keen on the move.

However, boss Nigel Pearson was not and Savage wants to prove he was wrong to turn him down.

"I was desperate to find a club at the time and I was pleading with (Leicester ambassador) Alan Birchenall to see if he could have a word on my behalf. I called Paul Dickov too. I was desperate to come back to City," Savage told the Leicester Mercury. "I think Milan Mandaric was up for it but Nigel Pearson said no. I think he thought my legs had gone.

"I suppose it was the right decision as he went on to take City straight back up to the Championship but I did want to prove to him that I was not finished. He wasn't the only one, no-one would take a chance on me and I ended up at Brighton."