When you read stuff saying 'his legs have gone, what did we get him for?', it does get to you Robbie Savage

Savage, 33, has struggled since joining the Rams in January but appeared back to his energetic best on Saturday.

"I was contemplating how I am as a footballer and what has happened," Savage told BBC Radio Derby.

"People were saying my legs had gone and I couldn't hack it at this level but it's nice to show people I can."

Interview: Derby midfielder Robbie Savage

Interview: Derby manager Paul Jewell

Savage moved to Pride Park from Blackburn in the transfer window at the beginning of the year and was made captain by boss Paul Jewell.

The Welsh international was hoping for a fresh start following an injury-plagued 2007 that included a broken leg at the start of the year.

606: DEBATE He is simply way past his best RAMMUNITION

But, by his own admission, he has been nowhere near the top of his game until facing his former club United and was especially thrilled to hear the home fans singing his name against the Premier League champions.

"I owed it to myself, to my family and the fans to put in a performance," he explained.

"It's taken me a while - it's taken me eight games - but I feel like for the first time in a Derby shirt I've earned by wages."

Savage says his lack of match fitness played a big part in his below-par performances and he is finally beginning to feel he is getting his sharpness back.

"I wasn't fit when I came here and I've been carrying niggles but the last two games I've felt pain-free and that makes a massive difference to my type of game," he revealed.

Robbie Savage (r) steams into a challenge on Ronaldo (Getty Images)

However, the Welsh international conceded that recent criticism had started to get him down.

"When you read stuff saying 'his legs have gone, what did we get him for?', it does get to you," he said.

"I'm a human being and it's horrible so it's just nice to prove a few people wrong.

"But I've gone out there against one of the best teams in the world and produced a fine performance."

Derby were given a 6-1 mauling by Chelsea on 12 March and Savage says the fans deserved a reaction from the players against United.

"We were pathetic against Chelsea but to put in a performance like that - against one of the best teams in the world - was a credit to everyone," he stated.