Caoimhin Kelleher insists he wasn’t disappointed to miss out on a recent Premier League debut - as he expected it.
Armed with his Champions League winners medal from June, the Corkman was in contention for a start against Southampton last month.
With No 1 goalkeeper Allison Becker already sidelined, new recruit Adrian was then injured by a fan in the post-Super Cup celebrations in Istanbul.
It left Jurgen Klopp in a flap as Kelleher had only just returned to training after breaking his wrist.
“The timing wasn’t great and it just happens,” said the 20-year-old yesterday as he gears up for Ireland Under-21s duty against Armenia on Friday.
“That’s the way football goes. I was fully fit, back in training and ready to play. I’d have been ready if called upon.
“They left it as late as they could. Adrian did a fitness test that morning and he was okay.
“But I expected him to be fit. I was ready to play but wasn’t too disappointed. I was very relaxed about it to be honest.”
Kop boss Klopp is a big fan of Kelleher’s and he was in the Liverpool squad as third-choice keeper during the business end of their European Cup success.
And life has changed for the Corkman as a result, as he now gets recognised out and about.
But phoning a taxi is a little more taxing as English people always struggle to pronounce his name.
“To save the hassle, I just say Kevin. It’s easier,” he laughs. “(At the club) they’ve just shortened it to Caoimh. They’ve got that nailed down.”
But Klopp’s faith in him means a lot to Kelleher.
“It gives you confidence that he trusts me,” he said. “He was always like that last year, saying he trusted me and the goalkeeper coach is the same.”
But with ambitions of becoming a No 1 in his own right, not to mention his long term Ireland hopes, Kelleher knows he’ll one day have to make a decision on his future.
“Training at the moment is going really well and it’s great to be training with Alisson,” he said.
“Maybe if Alisson moves on, then I’ll get my chance. I’ve got to look at it like that but I can’t look too far ahead.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen. I’m just focussing on training and impressing the managers.
“It’s nice to be in with the squad. Staying in position is comfortable but I’m always looking to push on and getting second choice is my next target.
“There’s a fine line. It’s nice to be comfortable but you can’t get too comfortable because you’ll go backwards. You need to be looking forward to the next target.”
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