LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, March 2, 2016: Liverpool's Jon Flanagan celebrates after the 3-0 victory over Manchester City during the Premier League match at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Jon Flanagan considering Burnley loan move

Liverpool defender Jon Flanagan missed Wednesday’s friendly at Huddersfield Town and is considering a season-long loan move to newly-promoted Burnley.

The right-back was left out of action for Liverpool’s friendly at Huddersfield, which the Reds won 2-0 thanks to Marko Grujic’s strike and Alberto Moreno’s late penalty.

According to Liverpool Echo’s James Pearce, Jurgen Klopp has given the Scouser the opportunity to decide whether he wants to move to Turf Moor for the season.

Pearce writes that Klopp believes the 23-year-old full-back would benefit from a year away from Anfield to play regular first-team football, having fully recovered from an 18-month injury lay-off.

However, despite offering him the chance of a temporary move, it is said that the Liverpool boss still firmly sees Flanagan as part of his long-term plans, with the defender having signed a new three-year deal in March.

Moving to the Lancashire club is a transfer that should interest Flanagan, with his opportunities set to be limited on Merseyside this season due to Liverpool’s lack of European football.

Flanagan is also behind Nathaniel Clyne and Alberto Moreno in the pecking order, with Connor Randall and Brad Smith able to deputise and Joe Gomez still to return from injury.

He is therefore unlikely to be afforded the amount of game time desired to aid his transition back into first-team football on the top stage.

The tough-tackling full-back would still be able to play on the Premier League stage with Sean Dyche’s side, allowing him to rediscover the form that saw him breakthrough as an Anfield regular in 2013/14, before his injury nightmare.

Enjoying consistent game action at Burnley would be much better for Flanagan’s development than sitting on the bench at Anfield – making a move a wise one for all parties.

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