Fredrik Stoor will make his debut for Derby tonight and hopes to do well enough to extend his one-month loan from Fulham and try to win his international place back.
The Swedish right back endured a difficult first season at Fulham as he failed to usurp John Pantsil in the Whites’ starting line-up. He made six Cup appearances for Fulham but only got onto the field twice in the league, both times as a substitute. Roy Hodgson’s summer signing of Stephen Kelly from Birmingham seemed to suggest that Stoor would not get too much playing time at Craven Cottage this season, so he started to seek opportunities elsewhere.
I basically told Fulham at the end of last season that maybe I will be looking to go somewhere where I can play. It didn’t happen in the summer for different reasons and a loan was my next move because I have not been able to get into the team at Fulham.
I want to play football. The past year has been one of playing cup games and sitting on the bench, so, hopefully, here I will get a chance to play some games. We will see how it goes first month. If things are working out and the club want me here and I want to be here, then I’d definitely like to make it a longer loan until January and then see what happens from there.
Stoor hopes his loan spell at Pride Park could reignite his international ambitions. He was impressive as Sweden went out of Euro 2008 in the group stages, but hasn’t played for his country since last year’s friendly against Holland. With the Swedes struggling to make South Africa, first-team football is the order of the day to try and regain his place in the side.
I have been speaking to the coaches and they told me if I was playing at Fulham, I would be in the Swedish squad because I have the qualities to be there. Since Euro 2008, it has been difficult but there has not been much I could do about it.
I have been working hard in training and trying to play well in the reserves but, last season, Fulham had a great season and that is partly why I was on the bench. Sweden have a couple of very tough qualifying games left, very important ones. My chances of being in a World Cup squad all depends on me playing and performing. I am pretty sure if I stayed at Fulham and did not play, I would not be in the squad.
Stoor admits the move to Derby came as something of a surprise as he received the news late on Friday night.
My agent called me about 7pm on Friday evening and told me about the move to Derby. It all happened very suddenly. I checked into the hotel up here at about 1am Saturday morning and met the players in the dressing room before the game.
My first impressions have been very good. Derby are definitely a team that want to play football, which is very positive. There seems to be a relaxed atmosphere in the dressing room and it is a great stadium and big crowd.
Rams manager Nigel Clough was delighted to secure Stoor’s services.
This is a terrific capture for us and I’d like to thank Roy Hodgson and everyone at Fulham for allowing us to take him on loan. He is a defender of international quality, who will certainly improve our squad.
We watched him last season and again on Wednesday night against Manchester City. He is a full-back or can play anywhere on the right-hand side.
Stoor will replace the injured Paul Connolly against Cardiff City tonight and it will be interesting to see how he gets on in the Championship.
