Flanagan thanks Liverpool fans for support during injury

After flirting with the first team for 2-3 years prior to last season, Jon Flanagan finhally had his ‘breakthrough’ season in 2013-14 when he made 25 appearances for the Reds, scoring his first, and so far only, goal in his Liverpool career.

Flanagan became something of a cult hero for his buccaneering style down the left side and no-nonsense defending, both of which were far cries from the nervous youngster we’d seen in his brief forays into the first team in previous seasons.

But after picking up an injury the 22 year old has missed all of the 2014-15 season but finally looks like he might be seeing some light at the end of the tunnel, as he makes his return to training. Speaking to the Official Liverpool Magazine, Flanagan said “It’s great to hear that the fans haven’t forgotten me.

“When you hear that, you know people are rooting for you and want to see you back playing again. It gives me even more motivation to recover and get back out on the pitch as soon as possible.”

Having made his England debut over the summer, Flanagan will find himself in a very different position when he does return and finds himself as a senior, first-choice full-back and the pressure will be on him to build on his displays of last season.

Flanagan continued “When I saw that we signed two full-backs, I immediately thought ‘I need to up my game now’. I know I need to consistently do well if I’m to get in the team and then stay there.

“I want to keep developing as a footballer. That’s why not being available has been so frustrating. But competition for places doesn’t bother me. I’m always up for the fight.”

Are you looking forward to having ‘Flanno’ back in the first team and, once he returns, should he be an automatic starter or have Moreno and Manquillo done enough to keep their places ahead of him for the time being? Let us know your thoughts below.