Andre Wisdom says training is more important than ever as Derby County’s squad look to navigate their way through a hectic end to the 2019/20 season.


Derby returned to action last weekend, following a three-month suspension of the season owing to the COVID-19 outbreak, with a 3-2 victory at Millwall.

The win at The Den was the first of nine matches for all Championship sides between now and mid-June which must be played behind-closed-doors.

Phillip Cocu’s squad have had another full week to prepare for this Saturday’s home fixture against Reading (1pm kick-off) - and the games come thick-and-fast after then.

Following the match against the Royals, Derby will face a run of four successive midweek games – all away from home - for the campaign to be concluded.

Wisdom believes the Rams’ work on the training ground in between games will be vital, especially as he feels the small details will play a big part on the pitch between now and the end of season.

The addition of water breaks, and the increased use of substitutes from three to five, in the final nine games of the season has also added a new set of circumstances for players to adapt to.


Speaking to RamsTV, Wisdom said: “Training is probably the most important it’s ever been, given the times that we have been through.

“Fitness will play a part and small details will play a big part in results. We have got to train as hard as possible and hopefully then the results will follow.”

He added: “I don’t think momentum in games will hold any weight because of the circumstances of no crowds and water breaks.

“Ahead of the first water break at Millwall last weekend they had momentum and then the water break came. As soon as we started again, we scored. It is strange. I think we just have to concentrate more than ever.”


Wisdom and the rest of Derby’s players had a period of just over two months - between and mid-March and the end of May - where they were unable to train as a group under the UK Government’s rules to tackle the COVID-19 outbreak.

During that time, the Rams’ squad were given fitness programmes to follow at home in order to maintain their fitness levels.

Training resumed under the EFL’s Return to Training protocols at the end of May and the defender says everyone in the squad is enjoying the return to competitive action.


Wisdom said: “The best thing about being in lockdown was knowing we were going to go back to football full-time and getting back into training.

“It was strange at first but now we are all training together because the games are back.

“It was tough, and we had to get our fitness up in a short time. We kept reasonably fit during lockdown but it’s good to be back playing now and a good result at Millwall got us going again.”