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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Chris Beesley

Ben Woodburn makes 'long-term' change as Liverpool youngster prepares for return

Liverpool youngster Ben Woodburn's long-awaited comeback from injury has been postponed because of football's coronavirus shutdown.

The Reds starlet hasn't played a competitive match for over six months since he exited Oxford United's 2-2 draw at Accrington Stanley on October 5 while on loan at the League One side.

Having broken a bone in his foot, Woodburn returned to Melwood for his recovery but in his final training session before he was due to be sent back down south in December, the Wales international suffered an almost identical problem in his other foot.

The player, who remains Liverpool's youngest-ever goalscorer having netted against Leeds United in a League Cup tie aged just 17 years and 42 days, is now fit-again but his return to action is delayed because of the COVID-19 induced hiatus of fixtures.

Woodburn's agent, Dave Brammer of Stellar Group, speaking to the ECHO about the launch of the player's new charity initiative to raise money for Cash for Kids, said: “Ben is fit and ready to get going again.

“Unfortunately he's had that tough time with the injury but just as he was ready to play, we've hit the lockdown.

“Ben is champing at the bit and hoping to sneak some football in before the end of the season.”

During Woodburn's early career he was considered to be a forward player, operating either as striker or winger but Mr Brammer believes that over the past few seasons, the youngster has developed to best suit an alternative role.

He said: “Position-wise, Ben is now a slightly different player to when he first burst onto the scene.

“He can still play wide, but I would call him more of an attacking midfielder, more like a number 8 or a 10 in a more central role.

“He can go wide if he needs to but I see his long-term future operating more centrally.”

To make a donation to Ben's charity initiative, which he has launched alongside his former Liverpool team-mate Danny Ward, now of Leicester City, click here

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