:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/20222589/178218243.0.jpg)
The arrival of Mamadou Sakho and Tiago Ilori combined with the decision to keep Martin Skrtel at least until January largely put an end to any hopes Andre Wisdom had of seeing time at centre half for Liverpool this season. Throw in Wednesday's loss to Manchester United in the League Cup that means the club only has league action until January, and minutes appear even less likely.
However, a recent spate of injuries at fullback that sees Glen Johnson and Aly Cissokho still out of the lineup while Martin Kelly and Jose Enrique are just now making their way back means there might just be room for Wisdom to get a game at right back. It's not the position he's expected to end up at once he establishes himself for the senior side, but for now a chance is a chance and playing time is playing time for the hungry young defender.
"I just appreciate playing," insisted Wisdom as part of a ranging interview with the club's official site. "If it's right back or centre back it doesn't really bother me. I played most of my youth career at centre back so I would say that's my position. But obviously if Brendan Rodgers comes to me and says I'm playing right back this week, I'm not going to say 'No I'm not, I'm playing centre back'.
"I'm just going to get on with it and do it. Hopefully I can give all I can in any position I'm asked to play. There's always a chance, even if everyone is fit. The manager makes us work very hard and if you perform well in training and show the right attitude when given an opportunity to make the position yours, he'll play you no matter what your age is."
There's a case to be made that most of Liverpool's youngsters who saw action last season did so on thanks to injuries and a thin squad—one that, before the season even started, lost key veterans like Dirk Kuyt and Maxi Rodriguez without replacing them. Still, despite strengthening at a number of key positions this summer, players like Wisdom or fellow youngsters Raheem Sterling and Luis Alberto may only be an injury away from seeing serious minutes.
"Every player just wants to play week in, week out," Wisdom said, before going on to reveal that rumours of a loan move on the final day of the summer transfer window hadn't been far off the mark and that it was only those defensive injuries that have so far kept him at Liverpool this season. "A loan was going to be the best option for me to get that, get the experience I need, keep fit and play every week. I was looking forward to it but that's football and injuries happen.
"I was thinking about going on loan—it didn't happen as soon as maybe I wanted it to, but it's good that I'm still here. My objectives are to try to keep myself involved, whether it's playing or on the bench or having an input by coming on if I'm needed, and to try to keep improving every day because it's a great environment to do that. That's all I can keep working on."
A short term loan deal to a lower league side remains a possibility with Liverpool's fullback injury crisis beginning to look merely acute rather than severe, but whether one happens or not—and no matter where Wisdom ends up playing for the remainder of this season—he's determined to work hard and take any opportunity he's given.
"I'm determined every day," he added. "I come to training and work hard every day, giving all that I can. Hopefully it will lead me on the right path. Obviously I need experience—I need more games because I'm still learning. Maybe if I am to go on loan and get that experience I need, I can try to be a key player in the team."