Why it took Joe Ledley until September to find a new club following his release by Crystal Palace is a mystery – he has shone at Derby County.
Joe Ledley is only four games into his Derby County career but to say he is already a fan favourite would be an understatement.
The Rams are unbeaten with the Welsh international patrolling their midfield and have now kept three clean sheets in succession. As a result, some fans are even going as far as to compare the unassuming, underrated Ledley as the long-awaited successor to captain John Eustace.
High praise indeed. And, in the eyes of most supporters, there is one clear priority Derby must attend to in the winter transfer window – and that is keeping their new found star man.
Ledley only signed for Derby on a short-term contract until January after his release by Crystal Palace in the summer. But the 30-year-old has hardly hidden his desire to extend his stay at Pride Park beyond the winter.
“Yeah, definitely (I want to stay),” the former Celtic midfielder, who scored on his debut against Brentford last month, told the Derby Telegraph. “Especially with the situation we’re in now. I like the club.”
The club, and its fans, like him too. Since Ledley made his bow against The Bees, the previously out-of-form Rams have climbed the table steadily and are now just three points adrift of a play-off place.
The appointment of Steve Cotterill at Birmingham City may have scuppered Gary Rowett’s hopes of reviving their failed summer deal for Blues midfielder Maikel Kieftenbeld. But no matter. Because Ledley is looking like an even better signing right now.
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