Mixed reactions as former Newcastle United boss Steve McClaren returns to Derby County

It was a shock to many that Nigel Pearson's replacement at Derby County is Steve McClaren.

McClaren's returns to Derby County as manager - 17 months after being sacked by the club certainly upset the layers  after Chris Powell started the day as the overwhelming favourite to take the hot-seat at the iPro Stadium.

The Rams parted company with McClaren in May 2015 after a bitterly disappointing end to the 2014/15 season which saw the Rams plummet from top of the Championship to a final position of eighth, having taken just two wins in their final 13 games of the campaign.

That run came as links between McClaren - who replaced Nigel Clough in 2013 as Rams boss - and Newcastle United grew, with the Magpies reportedly keen to bring the former England manager to St James' Park. McClaren would then join Newcastle before leaving the club in March of this year, and he is now returning to Derby with Powell as his assistant manager.

McClaren, who was one time assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson had a successful time at Middlesbrough before becoming England manager in 2006. He left that post after England failed to qualify for Euro 2008. He got his career back on track in Holland and Germany with FC Twente before joining Derby first time around.

JB