Derby County have plenty to play for in the Sky Bet Championship, with the play-offs still the target for Gary Rowett’s side.

Results have been disappointing in recent weeks for the Rams, who have slipped out of the top-six, but their form earlier in the season means that they are still well in contention.

One man who has been key for Derby this season has been Joe Ledley, who initially joined on a short-term contract, before earning himself a permanent deal in late 2017.

That contract is set to expire in the summer of 2019, despite Derby currently having the option to extend the 31-year-old’s stay by a further year.

Whatever division Derby find themselves in next season, changes will be expected to be made at the Pride Park Stadium.

Here at FLW, we take a look at Ledley’s stats so far at Derby, identifying whether he should be a player taken forward into next season:

The Welsh international has made 25 Championship appearances, scoring once and registering two assists.

Defensively, Ledley is averaging 1.4 tackles every time he takes to the field, whilst also making a classy contribution in possession.

The 31-year-old averages 39 passes per game, which come at a success rate of 81.4%.

The Verdict

Results in recent months might not have been good enough to maintain a push for automatic promotion, but Ledley’s quality has shown this season, with Derby far better with the midfielder in the side.

Rowett will surely look to build his side around the midfielder next season, particularly if Derby’s play-off push falters in the coming weeks and they remain a Championship outfit.

Derby fans… Let us know your thoughts!