Leeds United manager Neil Redfearn says he is not surprised at the impact Sol Bamba has had at Elland Road, with him being well aware of the defender's pedigree when he arrived.
The Whites snapped Bamba up from Italian outfit Palermo on a loan deal running until the end of the campaign. And so impressed have they been with the Ivorian, they are already eyeing turning his stay into a permanent one.
The powerful defender has helped Leeds on a superb run of form which has seen the side win five of their last six games and look defensively solid on their way up to the top half of the Championship table.
But Redfearn is not surprised at the impact Bamba has had, explaining he hoped, given the defender's experience, that he would be able to step up to the plate.
"We were hoping so [that he’d have an instant impact]", Redfearn told LUTV.
relatedNewsStory
"If you looked at his track record, and he'd done so well at Leicester City, at this level, which he understands, and he did well at Hibs, [you could see] he understood British football, the mentality and what was needed.
"I think he's done exactly that. He's been an experienced addition that's got good ability, great physical presence, pace, can recover, understands the game and is a leader."
And on a personal level, the Leeds boss finds Bamba a superb addition in the dressing room.
"I think the most overriding feature is just he's a top guy."
Bamba will have a new defensive partner tonight against Brighton with Giuseppe Bellusci out suspended, with Liam Cooper coming in.
Like betting on football? Check out our sister site Inside Bet. Free bet offers, betting tips, betting facts. Visit Inside Bet.
