Jurgen Klopp has cleared up Wataru Endo’s lack of playing time at Liverpool, with the Anfield boss stating that the midfielder will feature regularly this season.
Speaking to the press via the Mirror, the Reds manager revealed that Endo is ‘improving’ constantly in training, though the 30-year-old is yet to fully reach the level Klopp is looking for.
Endo was a surprise signing for Liverpool this summer as the Reds splashed £16m to recruit the VfB Stuttgart captain, who was likely brought in to replace the likes of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson.
However, despite being Liverpool’s sole natural no. 6, Endo has found minutes hard to come by, though Klopp is insistent that the midfielder will soon start featuring for the Reds in time.
Klopp said about Liverpool’s new summer signing: “You saw that today, he is there, he will help us a lot, he will play games, he will start games and all these kinds of things.
“It’s all good, he had already three or four games now for us in a very short period. That is what counts, it is not a short-term project. Wataru is a super-important part of the squad and I am really happy to have him.”
Endo will repay Liverpool and Klopp in time despite a slow start
Every player has different adaptation times when moving to the Premier League, with some settling in quickly whilst others might need a few months to get fully adjusted.
And the latter could be the category Endo finds himself in, who this summer was likely preparing for another Bundesliga season with Stuttgart.
Indeed, Endo will need time to settle if Liverpool are to get the best out of the Japanese international, yet for Klopp and fans, the wait will certainly be worth it.
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