Fulham have signed defender Chris Baird on loan from Derby until the end of the season.

The Northern Ireland international is a popular figure at Craven Cottage and helped the Whites to their highest ever league finish of seventh in 2009 and reach the Europa League final in 2010, where they were beaten by Atletico Madrid.

His last appearance at Craven Cottage was in a Rams shirt earlier this month and Fulham fans gave 'Bairdinho' an excellent reception.

He told the club's official website: “When the opportunity arose I had no doubt in my mind that I wanted to come and be part of this again.

“I’m looking forward to playing in front of the fans again. They were fantastic to me over the six years that I was here previously.”

In his first spell at Fulham, Baird made 127 league appearances, scoring four goals in his time at Craven Cottage. The last of those came in the 3-3 draw at Reading in 2012.