MX23RW : Wednesday, July 3 23:15:10| >> :60:1929:1929:

Jurgen Klopp wants what is best for youngster Rhian Brewster

Jurgen Klopp wants what is best for youngster Rhian Brewster
© Reuters
The youngster has completed a move to Sheffield United.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admits it would have been selfish of him to keep Rhian Brewster knowing the 20-year-old would barely get any game-time.

Brewster, who scored 11 goals in 22 appearances on loan at Swansea in the second half of last season, became Sheffield United’s record signing after completing a £23.5million move on Friday.

However, he is so highly-rated at Anfield despite not yet making a Premier League appearance that sporting director Michael Edwards has negotiated a three-year buy-back option in addition to a 15 per cent sell-on fee.

But no matter how good Liverpool think Brewster is, Klopp said it would not be fair to hold onto him on the chance he would develop into a genuine first-team player, especially after he fell further down the pecking order following the arrival of Diogo Jota for £43million.

“If I am selfish that never helps really to be honest,” Klopp said.

“I need a player in the right place and at the right moment so that means he is ready to fight.

“Everybody needs to know, all the young boys need to know, that we don’t keep them here at all costs – just so we have a solution for one or two games a year – that is not how we work.”

Brewster missed more than a year with a serious knee injury and Klopp said the priority after getting him fit again was for him to have regular game-time.

“He couldn’t make it here so far but he has made big steps in his development,” added Klopp.

“Rhian was really seriously injured and first we had to make sure he was ready again for all the demands of professional football and he is, 100 per cent.

“If Rhian would be now 25, 26 I would say ‘OK, you can stay and work for your chance and then don’t say I didn’t say you couldn’t stay’.

“But it is a different situation when you are younger, (it is important) a player like Rhian in this position up front makes now the next steps and uses the time he lost during the serious injury so it is possible a move to another club would make sense.”

While Brewster has departed, Klopp is ready to welcome back captain Jordan Henderson, who has been missing with a knee injury since coming off at half-time of the victory at Chelsea on September 20.

The midfielder returned to individual training this week and although he will participate in some group sessions, Sunday’s match at Aston Villa may come too early for him.

However, having been picked by England manager Gareth Southgate, Klopp is in the unusual position for once of wanting one of his players to get more minutes with the national team.

Jordan Henderson will use his England call-up to regain match fitness
Jordan Henderson will use his England call-up to regain match fitness (Nick Potts/PA)

“I was in close contact with Gareth Southgate and it is clear that he will use the time with national team for getting match-fit,” Klopp added.

“Hendo had four or five days normal pre-season before he played his first game for us because of the situation we were in.

“He played against Chelsea and got this little injury, which was not serious, but he has been working on his physical things already for a few days but now (it will be) more football specific with us and then the national team.

“He will have minutes for England, which is then a proper win-win situation which I’m really happy about.”

ID:416889: cacheID:416889:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:8114:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
rhs 2.0
Euro 2024 fixtures header
Friday, July 5
 
5pm
Quarter-Finals
Spain
vs.
Germany
 
8pm
Quarter-Finals
Portugal
vs.
France
Saturday, July 6
 
5pm
Tuesday, July 9
Wednesday, July 10
Sunday, July 14
Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Germany Germany32107
Q Switzerland Switzerland31205
3 Hungary Hungary31023
4 Scotland flag Scotland30121

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain33009
Q Italy Italy31114
3 Croatia Croatia30212
4 Albania national flag Albania30121

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England31205
Q Denmark Denmark30303
Q Slovenia Slovenia30303
4 Serbia Serbia30212

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Austria Austria32016
Q France France31205
Q Netherlands Netherlands31114
4 Poland Poland30121

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania31114
Q Belgium Belgium31114
Q Slovakia Slovakia31114
4 Ukraine Ukraine31114

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Turkey Turkey32016
Q Georgia Georgia31114
4 Czech Republic Czech Republic30121


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!