Steven Gerrard is still waiting to return to management and has already been linked with Wrexham but his former Liverpool team-mate wouldn't rule out Derby County

Former Liverpool and England striker Emile Heskey would like to see Steven Gerrard take charge of Derby County or Wrexham should either of those jobs become available in the future. Gerrard has not managed since leaving Al-Ettifaq last year, having previously taken charge of Aston Villa and Rangers after bringing an end to a legendary playing career.

The 46-year-old is currently on punditry duty with The Overlap and is waiting for his next move into the dugout, having already been linked with Wrexham.

And his former Liverpool team-mate Heskey believes he should also consider Derby as a potential future destination where his former England midfield partner Frank Lampard proved a huge success back in 2019.

Speaking to Eldorado, Heskey said: "What’s the best club for Steven Gerrard to take on his next challenge? It’s a difficult question because I never foresaw Frank Lampard going to Coventry City and doing what he’s done.

"Does Stevie take a similar route and think to himself, let me look at this project to push them on and build it, and build myself back up?

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"Lampard is building himself back to where people are thinking he’s ready to go for another big job again, or the England job in the future, but you’ve got to be very, very careful.

"Newcastle? Crystal Palace? Forest? Sunderland? You don’t want to be jumping into a Premier League side which looks good on paper but are struggling because you’ve got to remember the human side of things.

"Do you want to drop in on 25 players who are all down in the dumps? How are you going to pick them back up? Most of them have got enough quality to get out of the problems they put themselves in but you've got to try and get that out of them.

"I would love to see him go for a top-half Championship side like Wrexham or Derby County where you know can go after promotion, and build himself back up again."

Speaking about a potential return to management, Gerrard previously told Gary Neville that he had already been contacted by clubs at 'Championship level' after leaving Al-Ettifaq.

And while he is one of the finest midfielders the country has ever produced, Gerrard says he would have no qualms stepping down a division if it can match his expectations.

"There's no ego here," he said.

"There's no like, 'Oh I think I'm above any levels.'

"It's more the people that you speak to. Like, what is it that's on the table? What are you trying to achieve? Of course, most of the calls that I've had since I came out to my last job would be around Championship level."