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After weeks of teasing his return, Nathaniel Clyne has finally played his first competitive football match of the season. The right-back put in a complete 90 minutes with the Liverpool U23s when they beat Stoke City 4-0.
This represents a huge step in the player’s slow but steady progession towards full fitness and a return to the first team.
Clyne was clearly desperate to get out on the pitch and show what he could do. Neil Critchley, the manager of th Liverpool U23s commented on his determination after the game.
“He has not played for seven months and the plan was to see how long he would go for. He kept putting his thumb up and saying he was OK,” Critchley said.
“He obviously wanted to see out the 90 minutes, which was great for him. I thought he was a great example to our players in the way he managed himself during the game, as well as Joe Gomez.”
With only ten league games remaining, Clyne may be running out of time this season. Hopefully the fans get to see him at least once before we roll into the summer break.