Chris Riggott offered chance of Derby comeback

Defender Chris Riggott is being offered the chance to revive his career at his first club Derby County.

The centre-back was a product of the Rams' youth academy and was tipped for big things when he left Pride Park for Middlesbrough in a £3 million deal in 2003.

Although he often impressed on the pitch, his time at the Riverside Stadium was plagued by injury. He joined Cardiff on a free transfer at the start of last season but made just a handful of appearances as he again struggled for fitness.

The Bluebirds cancelled his contract by mutual consent in February.

But the 30-year-old has now joined his first club for pre-season training in a bid to prove his fitness before the new campaign.

Manager Nigel Clough told the Derby Telegraph: "He's going to come and do pre-season with us and what we've said is that if he can prove himself over the next five or six weeks, then we'd love to have him around for the season.

"He had an operation around the end of last season and we hope that will cure the problem that has dogged him for the past couple of years.

"It will all be down to his back - that is what has kept him out and restricted him playing so much. If we can find a solution to that, there is no reason at all why he can't get back to playing at this level."