The 34-year-old has signed a short-term contract at Pride Park, with Derby suffering from an injury crisis in defence. They had already recruited Jack Robinson, another free agent, last week.

Duffy has been without a club since leaving Norwich City last summer following three years at Carrow Road but has been training with the Rams for the last fortnight.

He'd joined them after seven years at Brighton & Hove Albion, who joined from Rovers in 2016.

Duffy has been an unpopular figure with Rovers fans since that switch. Many supporters felt aggrieved at the manner in which he moved, with many referencing the defeat at Cardiff City, where he scored two own goals and got sent off.

He had been an integral part of the Rovers side, appearing 69 times across his two years, scoring seven goals.

Derby already have head coach John Eustace, ex-captain Lewis Travis, Ryan Hedges and Dion Sanderson with Ewood Park connections.

It has been a difficult season so far at Pride Park, with the Rams currently 23rd in the table with seven points from their first 12 matches.