Joe Wildsmith has admitted one thing he did in Derby County’s win over Bolton Wanderers was the ‘best’ of his career.
Joe Wildsmith began his career with Sheffield Wednesday, making his senior debut in August 2015.
The goalkeeper spent a further seven years with his boyhood club but never managed to earn a regular place in the starting line-up, making more than 20 appearances in only one of his six seasons at Hillsborough.
After racking up only 89 games for the Owls, Wildsmith joined Derby County on a free transfer in 2022.
The 28-year-old has mostly been the Rams’ first-choice goalkeeper since arriving in the Midlands, but endured his first period out of the team when he was dropped for Josh Vickers at the start of the year.
Wildsmith was then brought back into the team last month and has started the previous nine games, claiming five clean sheets in the process.
The shot-stopper’s appearance against Bolton Wanderers yesterday was his 90th for the club – meaning he has now played for Derby more times in less than two seasons than he did for Sheffield Wednesday in eight years.
Wildsmith has now reacted to the milestone and admitted he is very ‘proud’ of what he has achieved.
Speaking to the official club website, he said: “It is the best thing that I had to do in my career. I came here and my ambition was to play as many games as possible. To have played more times for Derby than I did at Sheffield Wednesday in just under two full seasons is something I am proud of.”
Could Joe Wildsmith leave Derby County?
Joe Wildsmith now has the third-most clean sheets in League One this term, having played six games less than the pair above him. That is almost half his appearances this season without conceding a goal for the Rams (45.5%).
The keeper has become a really important player for Paul Warne‘s side, having made three saves in a huge six-pointer against Bolton.
It’s a shame that he spent so long at Hillsborough as an understudy given his success since, but he is still relatively young for a goalkeeper and there could still be plenty more to come from him at Derby.
Wildsmith’s contract at Pride Park does expire this summer though and it is unclear whether he will leave the club, though that could entirely depend on whether they win promotion to the Championship. He will be hopeful he can be awarded for his quality performances this term.