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"new Sol Campbell" as he has lazily been dubbed
is likely to make a big impact on the game in the years
to come. A strapping lad, who unexpectedly made
his first team debut at Liverpool in season 1998-99, coming on
as a substitute in our League game at Anfield. Tall, good
in the air and an excellent reader of the game, his thin frame was much like that of
Campbell when he first broke through, but the England Under-21
international has improved both physique and the experience that is
necessary to play at the highest level.
In reserve games,
King had the confidence to bring the ball out from the
back and his distribution was good. Already selected for
the England Under-21 side, the full side should not be
beyond his grasp if he progresses as he has done recently.
With Mauricio Taricco
getting sent off at Anfield, Ledley says of his debut, "When Taricco got
sent off I was told to warm up. I got a bit nervous, a bit
twitchy, we went in at half-time and I was told I was coming on. I
had a few minutes to gather my thoughts and it was great, the only
unfortunate thing was we lost the game. What a place to make your debut
though, at Anfield."
King made his full debut at Derby County in the 1999-2000 season - as a
defensive midfielder !! However, serious injury deprived
Ledley the chance of carrying on his movement into the first team
squad. Made a brief
appearance at the end of this season against Man U as a sub.
Was
unlucky to break his foot in the last minute of England's last game in
the European Under-21 Championships in Slovakia in summer 2000, thus
missing pre-season training for Spurs. He has recovered from
that and won a place in the first team because of
injuries. His calm influence and accurate passing show that he might be the player to step into
the middle of defence or midfield.
In
November 2000, he broke into the team on the back of injuries to
others and has
done very well. Scored his first goal against Bradford City on
9.12.2000 within ten seconds of the kick off - a Premier League record
for the fastest goal ever. Made a place in the side his and it
was only a broken cheekbone at Sunderland in April 2001 that ended his
season and he only returned to training in pre-season for 2001-2002.
Hampered
by a broken foot in the European Under-21 championships, but recovered
to play an integral part in Tottenham's 2001-02 campaign. Made
some movement on the international front, making his debut in the full
side as sub against Italy. Was at fault for the goal that
condemned Tottenham to defeat in the Worthington Cup final, but had
made enough good performances in the 2001-02 season to balance that
out.
Ledley picked up a knee injury prior to the start of the
following season and missed the first few games because of it.
He came back and established himself back in the side, although
appeared more tentative than previously, which might have had
something to do with the injury and the poor patch the team were going
through after Christmas 2002.
Another
injury kept Ledley out of the reckoning shortly before the start of
the 2003-04 season kicked off and then four games in, he tore a
hamstring, keeping him out for another two months. Up until that
point, he had been playing without conviction and the rest might do
him good, with a change in management and tactics, he might also
benefit when he returns to the side.
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ENGLAND INTERNATIONAL