Paul Simpson says signing Andre Wisdom on a permanent basis is a ‘real coup’ for Derby County.
Wisdom put pen-to-paper on a four-year deal with Derby earlier this month after an undisclosed fee was agreed with Liverpool.
Simpson was part of the Rams’ coaching staff, in the role of first-team coach, when Wisdom spent the 2013/14 campaign on loan at Pride Park Stadium.
He made 38 appearances, all at right-back, and Simpson – who led England’s Under-20s to World Cup glory a few weeks ago, was impressed with his consistent displays at right-back.
Simpson believes that the Rams have made a ‘fantastic signing’ by bringing him back to Derbyshire for good.
He told RamsTV: “My memory of Andre is that he was a top, top fella.
“On and off the pitch he was quiet but he went about his business really well.
“He was outstanding for the team and a real top talent. It’s a real coup for Derby to get him signed.
“In the Championship if you can get yourself somebody who is a seven or eight out of ten on a regular basis, you’ve got yourself a top player.
“For me, that is what Andre was and week in week out you knew what you would get from him.”
He added: “He is a fantastic signing for the football club and if he can produce the sort of performances that he did when he was on loan, then I am sure he will do really well.”
Simpson believes that Wisdom is capable of playing as a defensive or attacking full-back.
He has described him as a ‘solider’ for his performances over the course of the 2013/14 season as Derby reached the Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Final.
He said: “If you asked him to sit in, as we did for many games as Craig Forsyth was bombing on down the left, he could do that.
“On the other hand, if you opened him up a bit and allowed him to get forward then he could do that.
“He has a few tricks, pace and power. You won’t get many goals from him, though, as it’s not quite his forte!
“You have to have variety if your squad. You of course need your flair players and goalscorers, but also your soldiers who will work their socks off.
“Andre was a soldier for us a few years ago. We would have loved to have got him back for the following season but he had an opportunity to go to the Premier League and he took it.”
