On 29th August 2014, just three days before Sebastián Coates and Oussama Assaidi were sent on loan to English sides, Brendan Rodgers decided to send another player on loan to an English side.
19-year-old Jordon Ibe was sent on loan to Derby County in the Championship when he was still 18 years old. His first appearance came on 14th September 2014 in a 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest. Ibe was substituted on in the 76th minute with his side losing 1-0. Although he was not involved in the goal that came just four minutes after he came on, he caused the Nottingham Forest defence problems, and Derby County supporters fell in love with his driving runs and blistering pace.
He was subbed on in the 74th minute three days later in a 3-2 away victory over Blackburn. It was more of the same from Ibe. Three days later, he came on in the 53rd minute of a 2-2 home draw with Cardiff. He impressed and even scored a goal similar to Philippe Coutinho’s against Manchester City last season, except Ibe’s goal was near the penalty spot.
Three more days later, Ibe started and played the entire match in a 2-0 home victory against Reading in the League Cup. Ibe picked up Man of the Match in an online poll conducted by the Derby Telegraph, receiving 49% of the votes.
Ibe started the next league match only four days later in a 2-0 away victory over Bolton, a club which tried to get Ibe on loan before Derby County. Ibe ran Bolton’s defence into the ground and could have had a few goals for himself. He was subbed off in the 76th minute after both goals had already been scored.
Ibe started in a 2-0 home victory over Bournemouth three days later. He was replaced at halftime with the score 0-0, but Derby County came out flat at the start of the second half. Four days later, Ibe started in a 0-0 home draw to Millwall, being subbed off in the 65th minute. Ibe troubled the Millwall defence, almost winning a penalty for Derby County. He picked up a groin injury which forced him to not travel with the England U-20 squad in a tournament in Holland.
Two weeks after the injury, Ibe started and played the entire match in a 3-0 away victory over Reading. He scored in the 38th minute, as he picked up the ball on the corner of the box, zig-zagged his way towards goal and curled it in.
He started the next two matches before coming on as a substitute in 75th minute of a 5-2 away victory over Fulham in the League Cup. Ibe then started in a 3-2 home victory over Huddersfield. Ibe opened the scoring in the 7th minute. After a nice give-and-go with his teammate, Ibe slotted the ball in the bottom right corner with one touch.
After not starting the next match and being subbed on late, Ibe started the next one in a 2-1 away victory over Watford. He opened the scoring in the 39th minute when he received the balled near the corner of the box. He cut inside, beating one defender, and curled one in from the corner of the box. This goal was an absolute beauty.
He started the next match, but he was a substitute in the next two games. In the 3-1 home defeat to Chelsea in the Leaue Cup, Ibe came on in the 57th minute with his team trailing 2-0. He played a great game against arguably the best defence in England. He inspired his club to pull one goal back. Ibe started and played well in the next three matches, including a brilliant goal from six yards out in a 4-0 away victory over Birmingham.
Ibe most recently started in a 1-0 away victory over Ipswich on 10th January 2015. Over his 24 appearances for Derby County since his arrival in late August, Jordon Ibe has racked up 1,306 minutes of playing time (over 14 full matches).
Former England manager Steve McClaren has put a lot of faith in the young Englishman. Recently McClaren said on Ibe:
“It’s up to him how good he wants to be and up to Liverpool, but we can just develop him for Liverpool and get good habits into him. His all-round game has improved, his defensive responsibilities, his work-rate, his concentration but the biggest thing is becoming a team player.”
Derby County currently sit 2nd in the Championship. Ibe has been a big part of Derby County’s success thus far.
