Derby County’s start to the season will not be the one manager Gary Rowett will have wished for, and a 4-1 drubbing in their last game at Bristol City will have given the former Birmingham City boss cause for concern.

Having defeated Hull City at Pride Park by a convincing 5-0 scoreline in their previous league fixture, the hammering at Ashton Gate will have provided the Rams squad a firm reality check ahead of their encounter with Birmingham this weekend.

Rowett has this week moved to make amends for the heavy defeat, and the acquisition of experienced Welsh midfielder Joe Ledley on a free transfer will come as a welcome addition to the squad.

The 30-year-old has been without a club since his contract with Crystal Palace expired in June, but the opportunity to get back into football at Pride Park proved too much for the player to resist.

It will take a little time for Ledley to rebuild his match-fitness having been away from the game for so long, but once fit, he will surely slot straight into the starting XI in Derbyshire.

With that in mind, here is how Rowett’s men could line up with the Welsh international in the middle of the park…

Scott Carson will retain his place in goal, protected by a back-line of Marcus Olsson, Curtis Davies, Richard Keogh and Andre Wisdom.

Wisdom was dropped for Derby’s clash with Bristol City, but should come back into the starting line-up in due course at the expense of experienced Northern Ireland international, Chris Baird.

Rowett could possibly utilises a 4-3-3 formation with Ledley in the side, with the former Celtic midfielder joined in the middle by Bradley Johnson and Tom Huddlestone, who have been solid enough so far for Rowett this season.

Johnson and Ledley are both capable of contributing goals from the middle, and Huddlestone is the perfect candidate for a deep-lying playmaker role, spreading the ball around the park to open up the game for the Rams.

Having signed Sam Winnall on loan in a last minute deal with Sheffield Wednesday that saw Jacob Butterfield go the other way, it is about time the former Barnsley man was utilised.

Winnall is a natural goal scorer capable of finding the net on a regular basis, and Rowett must begin to show faith in the player by starting him at the expense of former England striker, David Nugent.

Winnall should be flanked by Tom Lawrence and Matej Vydra, with both players extremely capable in front of goal.

With the pair cutting in from the flanks and running at defences, the goals will surely begin to flow for this Derby side.

Ledley is set to play a huge role at Derby over the course of this season and beyond, and fans can begin to feel excited about what the 73-cap international will bring to the side.

Rams fans, how much of a role do you feel Ledley can play this season?