Liverpool are closing in on January and a chance to re-evaluate their squad ahead of the rest of the season.
The Reds have had a surprisingly dismal campaign so far and may be looking to add to the team in the transfer market.
One way of changing the faces within the Liverpool squad is to bring back players spending time away from the club on loan. If they can add something to the group, there can be value in asking them to return.
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Unfortunately, the more likely scenario for loan players coming back to Anfield is that they are not being given playing time by their temporary club.
That is the fate which may yet befall Lewis Koumas, who has struggled to make it stick while playing for Championship side Birmingham City. Despite his lack of action, though, Birmingham boss Chris Davies has spoken glowingly of the Liverpool youngster.
Lewis Koumas impressing despite lack of minutes
Koumas had a good season away from Liverpool last year, playing regularly as a starter for Stoke and making 49 appearances in all competitions.
A move to Birmingham was seen as another step forward for the 20-year-old, but he has so far started only five matches for the Blues, making 15 appearances overall.
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This has not been for a want of trying, however, with Davies outlining the exact qualities which have made Koumas a valuable member of his squad.
“He’s played off the right more than he would like to,” he said via Birmingham Live. “I think he sees himself as a left-winger, I could see longer-term where he could even play as a striker and he knows he’s capable of that.
“I see him as a winger and probably stronger on the left but because of Keshi [Anderson] and Dimmy’s [Demarai Gray] preference to play on the left he gives us a good option on the right.”
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“But I like his intensity. He’s as quick as we’ve got in the squad, I would say. He’s as intense in his game as we’ve got in the squad. They are both things I really value so I’ve got a feeling he’s going to have a big part to play in these next few weeks.”
Liverpool may not be happy with Koumas’ role
While it is good to hear that his manager is a big fan of him, Liverpool would no doubt prefer if Koumas was getting more time on the pitch.
In fairness to Davies, he recognises as much, suggesting that a conversation could soon take place over whether it’s best if the Wales international returns to base.
“Lewis Koumas has not played as much as he would want to, he’s someone I have spoken to about his own status and to be fair to Lewis, he did show some really positive signs, but he’s just found himself down the pecking order slightly,” he said.
“I always say if you’re not playing, I hope you’re getting as much development as you can in terms of training, meetings and coaching, but they all want the game time so if it comes to a point with Lewis, as an example, where he’s not feeling he’s getting the game time, or Liverpool feel he’s not, or we come to a situation, then we would look at it.”
There is still time for Koumas to break into Davies’ XI before January comes around, but if things continue the same, maybe we could see the young forward coming back home in search of a different solution.
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