Liverpool have today confirmed that Andre Wisdom has joined Championship side Derby County on loan.
The 20-year-old joins the Rams, currently managed by former England boss Steve McClaren, on a temporary deal.
Derby are eighth in the Championship standings after the weekend’s fixtures, four points from a play-off position.
The No.47 has made three appearances for the Reds in 2013-14, increasing his total to 22 matches and one goal since making his Liverpool debut in September 2012.
This news has been welcomed by many fans and former Liverpool striker John Aldridge who believes that this is a very good move for everyone involved.
Aldridge said in his Liverpool Echo column, “Andre Wisdom is off to Derby County on loan and I think that’s a great move for everyone concerned.
“The Liverpool youngster has got plenty of potential but to realise it he needs to be playing regular football.
“There is no point him just warming the bench and getting the occasional run-out for our U21s.
“The Championship is a tough league and it will do him good to experience life in that division.
“Hopefully he will establish himself in the Derby side under new boss Steve McClaren and come back to Anfield a better player.
“In the long-term, I think Wisdom has got all the tools required to be a very good centre-back.”
There is no doubt that Wisdom needs more game time if he is going to become the quality centre back he deserves to be. I would have thought that this loan deal would have happened earlier, considering that Liverpool signed Sakho and Ilori in the summer who are both centre backs. Couple that with the presence of Agger, Toure and Skrtel, one can see that Wisdom would have not gotten an opportunities to play for the side in the central department.
Wisdom has featured for Liverpool at right back and has done a decent job there. But the injury to Glen Johnson may have been what tempted Rodgers to keep Wisdom until Johnson made a full recovery. Now that Johnson is back, Wisdom has been sent out on loan to Derby. It will be interesting to see if Steve McClaren plays Wisdom at centre or right back. I am sure Rodgers would have asked McClaren to play him in the middle so he builds his game up there. We will be sure to keep a close eye on Wisdom at Derby.
