It was announced today that Joe Ledley has left Derby County to “continue his career”.
The former Celt left the Rams having made just four appearances for Frank Lampard’s men this term. He leaves having been largely frozen out at County.
This has opened up the idea of a potential Celtic return, and you can see the logic. Despite there being no official link or report claiming there’s any interest, it’s been a thought that’s been thrown up by fans on social media.
This is just a taster of some of the fan reaction to a potential Ledley return. But, it’s clear that we’re forgetting the main reason he left Derby in the first place, and it’s the same reason it makes a Celtic return a no-go – playing time.
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In his Twitter post after leaving the club, Ledley stated that he wanted to play “week-in, week-out”. You can read the Ledley tweet below:
https://twitter.com/joe16led/status/1091231311304511488
Makes it impossible
Regardless of where you see Ledley playing at Celtic, this shouldn’t happen.
Ledley makes it clear that he can’t bring himself to sit on the bench. Yet, if he was a new arrival at Celtic Park, that’s exactly what the Welshman would be doing, despite his successful three-and-a-half year stint in Glasgow.
Whether he’s acquired now or at the end of the season, he wouldn’t be playing regularly. If he was brought in to provide more cover at left-back, he wouldn’t be playing at all once Kieran Tierney returns. Despite the fact Ledley has featured there often, he’s not a better left-back than Tierney.
In the midfield, again, he’s not getting anywhere near Callum McGregor or Scott Brown. He would be an invaluable squad player to have, but that clearly isn’t enough for the Welshman, and he’s quite right too.
His talents and attitude deserve a club that can give him that first-team football he wants. Celtic, at the moment, surely can’t offer him that.
If the former Celt was willing to be a bit-part player, then a discussion should certainly be had. But it doesn’t look like Ledley’s the kind to only play fleetingly.