DONAL McDERMOTT reckons he’s picked the perfect place to develop his career.

The 21-year-old Irishman might have left one of Europe’s biggest clubs, but he’s got no regrets about crossing the Pennines after five years at Manchester City.

“I think we all know the situation at Eastlands,” smiled the midfielder who caught the eye playing against Town in the League I play-offs when on loan to Bournemouth last season.

“They’re a massive club who are going to get even bigger, and with the financial backing they have, the way they are going forward is truly unbelievable.

“With the set-up, resources and players they have, I think they have a great chance of winning the Premier League this season, and I’d love to see it happen.

“I had a fantastic time there, and I haven’t got a bad word to say about anybody at the club, because I learned a huge amount.

“There is a big, big squad at City, but as reserves, we did get the chance to train with the first teamers quite regularly.

“Being around the likes to Carlos Tevez and Robinho, when he was there, was unbelievable, and the manager (Roberto Mancini) and players like Micah Richards and Joe Hart were great.

“They were always happy to pass on tips and advice, and you felt like you learned something new in every training session.

“But it’s very difficult for a young player to make a breakthrough, and as I neared the end of my contract last season, I knew what the story would be.”

McDermott was back at the family home in Ashbourne, North of Dublin, when he heard of Town’s interest, and it didn’t take him too long to agree a two-year contract.

“I wanted to get my future sorted early so I could get settled and get a good pre-season under my belt,” explained the man who lashed home Bournemouth’s play-off semi-final first-leg leveller against Town.

“I watched the play-off final on television with my folks, and within a few days, my agent told me Huddersfield were interested.

“I’d got an idea about the club from the two play-off games, and the atmosphere at the Galpharm for the second leg was something special. From a tactical point of view, I could see Town were trying to play football, and that’s what I want to do.”

Of his own approach, McDermott, who has also had loan stints at MK Dons, Chesterfield and Scunthorpe, explained: “I’m basically a winger, but I like to come inside and play off the strikers or in behind one of them.

“Down at Bournemouth, the manager gave me a bit of a free role, which I really enjoyed, but going forward, I’d like to get a bit more structure to my game, certainly defensively.

“I’ve already started working with Lee Clark and his coaching staff, and while the gaffer knows what I can do, he also knows what I’m not so strong at doing, and we’re working hard on those areas.”

While he didn’t make a senior appearance for City, McDermott, who started out at local team Ashbourne United before joining well-known Dublin club Cherry Orchard, has played in all three divisions of the Football League in his various loan spells.

“League I is tough to get out of,” he said. “Town were really unlucky last season, because most years, their points total would have taken them up automatically.

“It wasn’t to be, but there’s a real determination to do the job this time.”