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Gary Rowett should make another Joe Ledley approach with Derby County’s options stretched

Gary Rowett manager of Derby gives instructions during the Sky Bet Championship match between Derby County and Wolverhampton at iPro Stadium on Aug...
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Derby County wanted former Crystal Palace midfielder Joe Ledley in the summer and the Welsh international is still without a club.

Gary Rowett, Manager of Derby County  during the Sky Bet Championship match between Derby County and Huddersfield Town at iPro Stadium on April 17, 2017 in Derby, England.

It’s fair to say Derby County’s failure to complete the signing of Birmingham City midfielder Maikel Kieftenbeld before the August transfer deadline has left Gary Rowett with a bit of a selection headache.

The Derby boss admitted that he would have thought twice about letting Craig Bryson leave on loan for Cardiff City if he knew that The Rams would not be able to get Kieftenbeld over the line, per the Derby Telegraph.

Jacob Butterfield departed too, leaving for Sheffield Wednesday on loan as part of the deal that took Sam Winnall to Pride Park. As such, the Derby Telegraph reports that Tuesday’s EFL Cup clash with Barnsley will help Rowett decide whether or not he needs to dip into the free-agent market to boost his options.

Joe Ledley of Crystal Palace looks on during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Sunderland at Selhurst Park on February 4, 2017 in London, England.

And one player still on the lookout for a club, Joe Ledley, was reportedly a target for Derby during the transfer window.

The Sun reported in June that The Rams were hoping to sign the 74-time Welsh international on a free after he left Crystal Palace upon the expiry of his contract but Ledley eventually refused to move to a Championship club due to his desire to stay in the Premier League.

Joe Ledley of Crystal Palace celebrates scoring the opening goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Leicester City and Crystal Palace at the King Power Stadium on February 7,...

However, with no offers forthcoming, you wonder whether the former Celtic and Cardiff enforcer may just revise his options. It appears that a move to the Championship is the best possible option for a player who, just a year ago, was helping Wales reach the semi-finals of the European Championships.

The 30-year-old would offer some much-needed steel in the centre and, most importantly of all, would give Rowett added depth after two of Derby’s first-team midfielders sealed deadline day exits.