Could Derby County tempt former loanee with a return to Pride Park?

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Liverpool defender Andre Wisdom has had a tricky time in the Austrian Bundesliga. Is now the perfect time for a return to Derby County?

General view at Pride Park

At the end of 2014, Liverpool defender Andre Wisdom was the talk of the Championship. After joining Steve McClaren’s Derby County on loan, the defender helped the Rams reach a play-off final, and quickly became very popular amongst Derby supporters for his strength and smart play.

Rams fans were hopeful of seeing the defender return to Pride Park after they failed to win promotion, but after proving himself in the Championship, Andre Wisdom quite fairly took the next big step up to play Premier League football, joining West Bromwich Albion.

Making only 24 appearances during his time at the Hawthorns, things didn’t work out as many expected for Andre Wisdom at West Bromwich Albion. A move to Norwich City followed, but the on-loan defender again made a measly 10 appearances, struggling to get into the side at right-back or centre-half.

Now, the defender is on loan in the Austrian Bundesliga, opting for a complete change of scene. Joining the impressive RB Salzburg, Wisdom has made 16 appearances so far, and has failed to nail down a place as a first team regular.

The promising young defender appears to be stuck in a rut; so is now the perfect time to return to a club whose fanbase already like him, and who arguably need him in the summer?

Andre Wisdom (R) – RB Salzburg

At right-back, the Rams currently have Cyrus Christie and Chris Baird. The pair’s contracts are both set to expire this summer, and many Derby fans wouldn’t be surprised to see new manager Gary Rowett opt to make a big change at the back and bring in a new defender. Could Wisdom be the man?

Unlike former Derby managers like Steve McClaren, Gary Rowett prefers to play with a much flatter, more strict back four, with defenders not venturing too far forward. It was this solidity that made Wisdom such a popular figure at Pride Park during his time at Derby, and now the Liverpool man could fit the Rams even better than he did during his first spell.

Be it on loan or on a permanent, Derby County should do whatever they can to try and tempt Andre Wisdom back to the club.

Derby County manager Gary Rowett