Paul Jewell believes he already has the spine of a successful Championship team next season - and he's targeted four or five more players to strengthen further ahead of the August kick-off.

"In Roy Carroll we will have probably the best goalkeeper in the Championship - what a terrific free signing he is," the Derby boss told RamsWorld.

"Alan Stubbs has done great, Robbie Savage is now starting to look like the player we know he can be and Tito is getting goals and people can see that he will score in the Championship next season if we get the right quality into the box.

"So if you talk about a spine, then those four players down the middle is a good start and it will get better."

And the work to strengthen further has already begun. "I have targeted four or five players I want to bring in and I think if we get them in early enough we can hit the ground running," said Jewell. "There are no guarantees of course because it's going to be a new team and will need time to settle but I want there to be the expectation of success next season."

The gaffer also had words of praise for two other recent recruits - Australia internation Mile Sterjovski and on-loan midfielder Hossam Ghaly.

"Mile played well in the secondf half on Saturday so although," he said. "It's been a difficult season for everyone, but I've been trying to work towards next season from day one and with those four or five players and plenty of others coming in I hope we will be somewhere near the top next season.

"If Hossam plays like he did against Middlesbrough and like he did on Saturday then he's a terific player - he's just got to hit that consistency level. I haven't really spoken to Hossam about next season yet because I don't know what he wants to do but I'll be sitting down with him and I'll be trying to sign him. Whether he wants to play in the Championship or sees his future elsewhere is another thing, but he has shown real touches of quality and Premier League class.

"I think he can add consistency and a few more goals - because he is always trying to put people through rather than have a shot himself - but in flashes he has been brilliant during a difficult season."

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