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Opinion

Woodburn development to suffer with stay

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Image for Woodburn development to suffer with stay

OPINION

Liverpool youngster Ben Woodburn is set to remain at the club for the second half of the season after talks over a loan deal to Hull City collapsed. 

As reported by the Evening Standard, the Wales international was expected to join the Tigers on a temporary deal until the end of the season, but such a move now looks off the cards after talks reached an impasse.

It is now highly likely that the 19-year-old will have to stay on Merseyside until the summer, barring any late interest from other lower league clubs.

And, considering Woodburn’s struggles in recent seasons, and the wealth of talent ahead of him in first-team contention at Anfield, that is likely to mean six more months of youth football for the winger.

Obviously that will help him in some regards, with Woodburn not quite having outgrown age-group football yet, but this will still come as a blow to the talented attacker.

Woodburn is at the stage in his career where he is desperate to start playing regular first-team football, and as mentioned, that will not come at Anfield in the coming months.

The quicker a young player becomes accustomed to the rigours of senior football, the quicker they can begin to work towards their potential – with Woodburn’s being extremely high.

The longer he remains at youth level, with the football not challenging him, the further he gets from fulfilling that huge potential.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp may be of the belief that players can continue their development at youth level at the club, and that is true to some extent, but there can be no doubt that a January stay is a blow for Woodburn.

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