By Chris Bevan

I believe I am the best goalkeeper in the country and I just need the opportunity to prove it Derby goalkeeper Stephen Bywater

Any young player struggling to make headway in his career could do worse than follow the mindset of Derby's Stephen Bywater.

The 25-year-old goalkeeper has had more downs than ups in the nine years since he left Rochdale at the age of 16 to join West Ham for �2.3m in 1998.

Bywater was shocked by the death of his Hammers mentor Les Sealey, suffered a spate of wrist injuries and played only five first-team games between 2000 and 2003 - but still went on to become first choice shot-stopper at Upton Park.

Yet after helping West Ham win promotion back to the Premiership in 2005, Bywater was overlooked by then boss Alan Pardew and, following the arrival of three new keepers, never started another game for the club.

Farmed out on loan to Coventry last season, he moved to Pride Park at the start of this campaign - which is where his career trajectory has taken another upward curve.

Bywater has conceded just 20 goals in 24 Championship matches this term and is one big reason why the Rams are joint top of the table with 12 games to go.

A return to the top flight is in sight, and this time the former England under-21 international feels he is ready to take his chance.

"I believe I am the best goalkeeper in the country and I just need the opportunity to prove it," Bywater told BBC Sport.

"Playing in the Premiership is what it is all about. I want to show people that I am as good as I think I am.

"I think I am good enough and so do a lot of other lads at Derby - it is just a matter of getting there."

Bywater made his Hammers debut at the age of 18

Bywater is quick to credit Derby boss Billy Davies for his side's presence in the promotion race.

"It all stems from him really, he is the one motivating us to do well," Bywater explained.

"I had a few options when I left West Ham but I saw what the man had done at Preston so I knew this club would be moving forward - he is hungry for success.

"When I met him he was very enthusiastic and determined and I thought we could just be in with a chance of doing something this year. I wasn't sure it was going to be promotion."

Determination is clearly something Davies and Bywater have in common.

Lesser men would have been disheartened by the way his promising spell at West Ham petered out - but not Bywater.

"I had a couple of injuries and that held me back," Bywater said. "But it is hard for a keeper because you don't mature physically until you are a lot older and experience is important - you have to be brave to play a young keeper in the Premiership.

"I didn't get many opportunities but I have no regrets about my time there.

"I never got down - my mates back home were struggling to get jobs or they were at university or college and I used to think that I was so lucky to be doing what I am doing.

"You have to keep grinding it out. When you get released by a club then if you sulk you are not going to get anywhere.

I get aggressive before games. I normally start getting wound up the night or the morning before. It's weird but I get angry Stephen Bywater

"You have to have a bit of grit. If you don't dig in and fight for another chance then you are not going to get anywhere."

"Alan Pardew was good to me - he let me go for a small fee and told me to go and make a career for myself.

"I am grateful to him for letting me go and I am even more grateful to Billy Davies for giving me a chance."

Bywater was born into a family of goalkeepers - his grandfather Leslie played for Luton and Rochdale while his father David was Dale's goalkeeper coach and turned out for Halifax.

And it is clear another keeper, Sealey, has made a lasting impression on him that he has taken with him to Pride Park.

The former Manchester United and Luton star was guiding Bywater in his role as the Hammers' goalkeeping coach when he died of a heart attack at the age of 43 in 2001.

And 43 was the squad number Bywater asked for at Derby in recognition of Sealey's help early in his career.

"Les looked after me most of the time," Bywater said. "He took me to training every day, coached me and advised me on life.

"I know he is watching over me and that he wants me to do well, so that was for him."