Ex-Cardiff man eyeing up leading Portsmouth back to winning ways - against the Derby side he rejected

Yet he is convinced Derby will strongly feature in the League One promotion shake up.

Rendered a free agent following his end-of-season release by Cardiff, the midfielder held talks with a number of clubs last summer.

That included Derby, who at the time were managed by Wayne Rooney amid ongoing ownership uncertainty.

Regardless, Pack instead opted for a reunion with his home city, signing in June to become Danny Cowley’s first summer recruit.

Pompey will this evening face the sixth-placed Rams (8pm), with just goal difference separating the former Premier League sides.

Pack was tight-lipped when asked over that Derby interest – and is focused on performing for Pompey in the televised encounter.

He told The News: ‘I was probably linked with quite a few clubs in the summer and I know a few of their players.

‘Derby have recruited really well, they have a new manager in and we are very close to each other in the team. Being two ex-Premier league teams, some fixtures in this league show you how big this division is.

‘I can’t remember how many clubs I spoke to (in the summer), but there’s only one club that matters. Pompey is the one I chose and I’m really enjoying it.

‘We need to start winning games of football again, but the hard work and application has been put in by the lads, it’s just that sometimes you go through these spells as a team.

‘It hasn’t been really bad, but, with the games we’ve had recently, we’ve drawn at home to Shrewsbury and drawn away at Morecambe when there's expectations to go and win them.

‘Looking at Derby, they’ve recently changed managers so the style of play has probably altered a little, while they have brought in all these players at once. Success just doesn’t happen overnight.

‘They’ve got some really good individuals, they've had a decent start to the season in relative terms with everything that has gone on there.

‘And I’m pretty sure they will be up there at the end of the season.’

The clubs last met in league competition in April 2012, when Derby ran out 2-1 winners at Fratton Park.

It was a result which condemned Michael Appleton’s men to relegation, having earlier been handed a 10-point deduction following administration.