Derby County and Nottingham Forest will not share same Tom Ince memory | OneFootball

Playing for both Nottingham Forest and Derby County in the 2014/15 season, it was the latter who saw the best of Tom Ince.

Across a Championship career with varying levels of success, Tom Ince has spent multiple spells in the East Midlands, notably with bitter rivals Nottingham Forest and Derby County.

However, it was with the latter that the 33-year-old truly lived up to his potential as one of the most exciting prospects outside the top flight.

Ince spent a brief loan period at Nottingham Forest in 2014, but it was with rivals Derby in the same campaign that he became a star.

He then remained at Pride Park for two more years before the Premier League came calling once again for the talented attacking midfielder.

Derby County benefit from lacklustre Nottingham Forest spell

In October 2014, Ince joined Nottingham Forest on loan from then-Premier League outfit Hull City.

However, his spell at the City Ground was lacklustre, with just six appearances and no goals.

Hull recalled him before sending him on loan to Forest's fierce rivals, Derby County, for the rest of the 2014/15 season.

The deadline-day signing exploded onto the scene, scoring five goals in his first three games for the Rams and quickly reminding fans of the player who netted 33 goals for Blackpool between 2011 and 2014.

"I've really found my feet and I'm feeling confident in this team," the 23-year-old told BBC Radio Derby.

"I can't let up now. I have to keep my head down and maintain that standard. I've come here to get promoted."

Before his loan moves, Ince had struggled since joining Hull in the summer, making just nine appearances and failing to secure a regular place. But at Pride Park, the England Under-21 international regained his form.

“It’s a great squad and the fans are unbelievable,” he said. “As long as I can keep my head down and work hard for this team, hopefully we’ll be up there and get promoted.”

Tom Ince's Derby form earned another Premier League move

A naturally talented player, Ince became a key figure for Derby as they pushed for promotion following his permanent move. However, the club's fortunes were mixed during their pursuit of the Premier League dream.

Despite leading the Championship table in February 2015, Derby missed out on the play-offs entirely that season. The following year, they suffered heartbreak in the play-off semi-finals, losing to Ince’s former club Hull.

Following the 2016 play-off failure, however, Derby found themselves in limbo. Nigel Pearson left the club in October 2016 with the club sitting 20th in the Championship after a heated exchange with owner Mel Morris, and Steve McClaren was brought back after losing his job just over a year prior.

The Rams eventually reaped the financial rewards of Ince’s efforts. In 2017, after a season where he scored 14 goals and provided eight assists, the Rams sold him back to the Premier League with an £11 million move to Huddersfield Town.

Ince’s move to Huddersfield didn’t quite pan out as hoped, with just two goals in 33 appearances in the top flight. Nevertheless, his value remained high, and Stoke City signed him for an initial £10 million fee in July 2018.

During his four seasons at Stoke, Ince had loan spells at Luton Town and Reading. He then joined Reading on a permanent basis for the 2022/23 campaign and has been at Watford since June 2023.

Derby saw the best of Ince over an inconsistent career

The stark contrast between Ince's spells in the East Midlands perfectly sums up his career as a whole. Rarely has he managed to replicate his form from one club to another, a pattern visible in his two Premier League moves and big-money transfer to Stoke.

In the same season, Ince went from barely making an impact at Nottingham Forest to becoming an 11-goal man for Derby in just 18 appearances. Pride Park was where he truly fulfilled his potential, consistently delivering performances that made him one of the most exciting talents outside the top-flight.

While his loan stint at Nottingham Forest offered little promise, his time at Derby showcased his quality and influence in the Championship. The Rams provided the ideal platform for Ince to thrive, with both club and supporters bringing out the best in his creativity and goal-scoring prowess.

Ultimately, Tom Ince’s time at Pride Park remains the most memorable and defining chapter of his Championship career. A vivid reminder of what might have been had he sustained that form elsewhere.