That's really rich as Robbie goes over top to drive Derby mad

Senior players were stunned when Savage, who has done nothing to justify his £30,000-aweek wages since he became Jewell's most high profile signing, arrived yesterday in a 6.3litre Mercedes CL AMG, painted gleaming white with black trim.

One Derby insider, who asked not to be named, told Sportsmail: 'Can you believe he turned up in a car like that in the position we are in?

'We're bottom of the table with nine points, he hasn't had a decent game since he's been here and he's swanning around in that thing with huge great spoilers everywhere. Still, at least it's in club colours.'

Jewell instilled a boot camp mentality after Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Wigan, a performance he claimed lacked 'passion and desire'. The players have been forced to arrive for training at 8.30am this week.

But Savage may not feel the benefit as he is expected to be dropped for Saturday's home game against Sunderland.

Jewell told BBC Radio Derby: 'Robbie is low on confidence. He is playing with injuries that he probably shouldn't be. He will be an effective player for us but like a few players at the moment, he is ineffective. His performances are going to attract criticism.

'He is almost trying too hard and we might have to try and get him properly fit and back to where he has been for most of his career.'

Jewell has kept his word to 'make life uncomfortable for the players' after they slipped to their 11th defeat in 16 games under his management. Insiders claim they have been run into the ground.

That was underlined yesterday when Barnes was injured during a running session. The left winger fears he has torn knee ligaments, but the affected area is so swollen that the club have yet to determine the extent of the injury.

Derby are hoping to send him for a scan today, but it may take 48 hours for the swelling to subside. Derby have yet to win a League game under Jewell and there have been mutterings of discontent from the squad this week after they were forced into 'dawn til dusk' training sessions. There are also claims that they have barely touched a football this week.

Jewell appears unrepentant after his outburst following the defeat at the JJB Stadium. At the time, the former Wigan boss said: 'This is a great club, but at the moment players are simply not turning up.

'I could take it if they were showing some desire and passion to perform but they have made my life uncomfortable, so I am making life uncomfortable for them.'

He has lived up to his word but there are fears that the injury to Barnes is a direct result of training overload.

Derby players were sympathising with the midfielder last night, but there was little of that for Savage, whose ostentatious show of wealth has amplified an already tense situation.