Former Rams academy graduate Sibley at crossroads with U's

LOUIE HAS STRUGGLED TO MAKE HIS MARK AT OXFORD

- By LEIGH CURTIS

THERE was a point in Louie Sibley’s career when everybody felt he was Derby County’s latest golden goose to come through their academy.

A hat-trick away at Millwall in only his second League start for the Rams five years ago sparked genuine excitement as to where his career would take him.

Comparisons with Jude Bellingham provoked plenty of debate among the fans as to who was the better prospect, given that Sibley contributed more assists and goals than the former was doing at Birmingham City.

The career paths of both players since then have taken wildly different directions, however.

Bellingham has enjoyed a stellar rise to fame and is now the heartbeat of Real Madrid’s midfield, while Sibley remains on the books of Oxford United, where he has played only twice this season.

One of Sibley’s biggest issues is that he has not been able to nail down a position he can call his own.

While many fans felt his best position was number 10, something the player would agree with, under former Rams head coach Paul Warne, he was utilised as a winger, a wing-back and, on occasionally, a left-back.