Phillip Cocu says he’s pleased with Andre Wisdom’s positive development during Derby County’s 2019/20 season.


The defender missed the opening months of the campaign as he recovered from a knee injury sustained towards the end of last season.

The 26-year-old, after gaining match time with Derby’s Under-23s during September and October, made his return to the first-team fold in November.

Since then, he’s become an important player in Phillip Cocu’s side and has performed at both right-back and centre-back.

With skipper Wayne Rooney injured for last Sunday’s 3-0 home win over Blackburn Rovers, Wisdom took over the captaincy for the first time in his professional career.

The powerful defender was his no-nonsense self whilst wearing the armband and produced a typically solid display as the Rams recorded three points and another clean sheet on home turf.

Cocu felt Wisdom was the right choice to lead the team and he says the former England Under-21 international’s progress over the course of the campaign has been pleasing.


The Derby boss told RamsTV: “For Andre, it was the first time being captain (against Blackburn) and I think he has developed himself in a very positive way through the season.

“He sees the game well, leads the other players and always has contact with team-mates and the back four. He missed the start of the season because of injury and had to be patient.

“He understands how we want to play, the intensity we train and play at and he has become an important player for the team.”

He added: “Andre has made some good changes and is development has been positive. He has done it himself.”


Wisdom has racked up 103 appearances for total in Derby across two spells.

He spent the 2013/14 campaign on loan from Liverpool and went on to return to Pride Park Stadium in the summer of 2017 from Anfield for an undisclosed fee.