Promising Liverpool Youngster Set To Follow In Townsend's Footsteps

Derby boss Steve McClaren believes that Andre Wisdom can take full advantage of his loan at the club and prove to Liverpool that he deserves a regular starting berth, in much the same way that Andros Townsend excelled while on loan at Queens Park Rangers.

Wisdom sealed a move to Derby this week as the 20-year-old seeks more game time in an effort to prove to Brendan Rodgers that he has the quality to become a regular in the back four at Liverpool.

The youngster featured for the Merseyside club 19 times last season but has made only three in the current campaign, and Rodgers believes that a loan move would be the best option.

And McClaren believes that the England Under-21 international can follow in the footsteps of Townsend, who is now commanding a starting place with Tottenham and has made a strong impression for England in their most recent World Cup qualifying matches after a series of loan spells.

"They are out of their comfort zone. Some adjust quickly, some take a while," McClaren told the Derby Telegraph.

"You have seen a perfect example with Andros Townsend who has had numerous clubs before he has emerged.

"You are just hoping young players coming in on loan can help you and you get one who can make an impact straight away.

"Andre is young but he has got that experience where he has played for Liverpool and for England Under-21s and he has got the physique. Sometimes you worry about that but he has got that.

"So you hope he will hit the ground running."

Townsend's success at Tottenham has led to many touting the 22-year-old as a possible replacement for Gareth Bale. And after nine loan spells his performances this season certainly serve as a success story for both Spurs and the England international.

Wisdom has played in both the right-back and centre-back positions while at Liverpool and McClaren says that when helinks up with Derby, the Championship side will have better competition for places across the defensive line-up.

"Interesting," he said when asked where Wisdom will play. "We will have to see. He can play both centre-back or right-back.

"The biggest thing is we need competition in there, competition on Saturday and competition in training, and Andre will provide that.

"With Zak Whitbread being injured, we are light at the back.

"As soon as Zak got injured, Andre was always on the radar. It is a great opportunity to bring him here to help us and for us to help him."