Louie Sibley’s 14-year association with Derby County came to an end during the summer as he joined Championship rivals Oxford United.
Sibley was instrumental in Derby County winning promotion last term and in the second half of the season, nailed down a spot at left wing-back.
That was completely different to his natural position on the wing or as an attacking midfielder but he still registered three goals and three assists in League One.
Derby did offer Sibley a new contract in the summer as his previous deal was expiring however, the 23-year-old decided against staying at Pride Park.
In his first interview after leaving, Sibley explained how he wanted to play in a central attacking midfield role, and that wasn’t promised in Derbyshire.
How Louie Sibley is getting on at Oxford United
Following 173 appearances for Derby, the young Englishman moved to fellow Championship side Oxford as he wanted to play regular minutes in midfield.
The U’s have started life in the second tier with 12 points from their opening nine games and currently sit 10th in the table, level on points with the Rams.
However, Sibley perhaps hasn’t made the telling impact he would have imagined, with a midfield trio of Will Vaulks, Idris El Mizouni and Ruben Rodrigues preferred over him.
The Derby Academy graduate has only played 38 minutes this term. Manager Des Buckingham has left him on the bench in every game but he did come onto the pitch against Portsmouth last weekend and net the equaliser.
After the game, the Oxford boss gave a ‘special mention’ to Sibley, who has had to bide his time for chances this term.
“A special mention to Louie Sibley, who has had to be patient all season, and watched others go on before him,” Buckingham said as per Oxford Mail.
“He’s been very patient to take his chance when he got it. To bring him on, it was a wonderful finish from Louie.
“I see it every day in training with the goalkeepers within the shooting practices telling him to take a little bit off because he’s got a sledgehammer of a foot.”
Sibley made the correct decision leaving Derby County
Some will think that, after watching him rarely feature this term, Sibley made the wrong decision leaving the Rams this summer.
However, given the options Paul Warne has at his disposal in midfield, including David Ozoh, Ben Osborn, Kenzo Goumijn and Ebou Adams, Sibley would have perhaps found himself the fifth choice.
The talented whiz ultimately left Derby for guaranteed first-team minutes, and while that hasn’t happened in the opening months of the season, his goal against Portsmouth showed Oxford what he’s capable of.
Hopefully, that strike is enough to convince Buckingham of a start after the international break, or at least give him increased minutes from the bench.
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