There is still a chance for Martin Kelly to prove himself at Liverpool, according to Reds boss Brendan Rodgers.
Once highly promising and much-hyped, injuries have stunted Kelly’s development in recent years, and the 24-year-old has made just nine league appearances under Rodgers.
The rupturing of an anterior cruciate ligament during a league match against Manchester United at Anfield in September 2012 was the latest setback to his career – and the last time he started a Premier League match.
In his brief appearances since then, Kelly has looked a shadow of his former self, often looking tired and struggling to regain form.
But Rodgers has given Kelly good news in that the club haven’t lost faith in him yet, telling the club’s official website, “Martin has been really unfortunate. He was out for a year, he came back this season and at the beginning of the season we put him into some games.
“But as the season wore on and we were concentrating on one game a week, it was very difficult for him to get games.
“He’s a quality player and he’s a good guy as well – he knows the club inside out. He’s been around for a long time and the game against Shamrock Rovers was his first game for a number of months.”
Kelly put in a solid performance in the post-season friendly in Ireland in midweek, getting himself on the scoresheet with Liverpool’s third goal of the 4-0 rout.
Rodgers added, “He played at centre-half, as opposed to right-back, where he has played a lot. He’s a good guy and there will be games next year for the likes of him to come and play in if we continue to qualify in the competitions.”
What does the future hold for Kelly? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
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