20-year-old Liverpool player admits he’s expecting to be sent out on-loan next season

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Liverpool youngster Layton Stewart has admitted that he’s expecting to be loaned out next season.

Stewart has been highly thought of at the academy for a number of years. Were it not for a debilitating long-term injury, perhaps the 20-year-old could have been a first team regular at this stage.

Instead, the striker has just one Liverpool appearance to his name – 66 minutes in the Carabao Cup against Derby County this season. Fingers crossed there’s more still ahead for Stewart. But speaking to GOAL, he explained that he’s now preparing for a spell away from his boyhood club.

“I’m realistic. I know how hard it is to get into Liverpool’s team. I’ll do everything I can to impress,” he began. “The manager always gives the younger lads hope that you’ll get a chance to go and train with the first team and if you impress then you’ll stick around.

“Look at Stefan [Bajcetic], he’s a huge inspiration for all of us. He went up, did well and stayed there. Same with Tyler [Morton] last year, and now he’s gone and smashed it on loan at Blackburn and got 40-50 senior games under his belt.

“Hopefully I’ll get a look in pre-season with the first team, and then I imagine the main aim will be to try and go on loan, depending on what happens. If the club wants me to stay then I’ll stay, of course, but probably most likely is a loan.”

Stewart approaches make or break time at Liverpool

At twenty, and with plenty of blockbuster names ahead of him in Liverpool’s attack, a loan is certainly the right move for Stewart.

By this stage, it would unfortunately be a surprise to see him become an established pro at Anfield. But a good loan switch could still change all that.

Imagine if Stewart heads off to the Championship and does really well. Liverpool would be foolish not to give him a go on the back of that. Without the regular game time though, he doesn’t have a chance to show what he can do.

As a result, this is something we’re fully behind. Stewart has been a goal machine for the underage sides at Liverpool. But given a chance against Derby this season he looked a little lost. Playing regularly against men in the lower leagues should change that.

Quite where will be the best place for him, the Reds will have to judge carefully. They haven’t always got it right when choosing loan moves. The likes of Leighton Clarkson and Rhys Williams will attest to that.

But when it works, it really works. Stewart is right to point out Morton as someone who’s benefitted from time as a first team regular, while Conor Bradley is another doing well at Bolton Wanderers. A similarly successful temporary home will hopefully be found for Layton in what will likely be a make or break season for him.