Conor Coady confirms surprise Liverpool return on short-term basis after tearing up Wrexham contract

Conor Coady has revealed he is back at boyhood club Liverpool after being released by Wrexham - and he could have a fascinating part to play for the Reds if he chooses.

Coady left Wrexham on Monday after being made surplus to requirements under manager Phil Parkinson.

He spent the second half of last season on loan at fellow Championship side Charlton Athletic, who decided not to sign him on a permanent basis after 12 appearances.

Having been converted to a defender while at Wolves, Coady ended his time at The Valley playing in defensive midfield - the position in which he played during his time at the Liverpool academy and then at Sheffield United and Huddersfield Town.

He was not named in the Wrexham matchday squad for any of their opening five fixtures in all competitions, and is now free to find another club outside of the transfer window.

While he hasn't retired from playing, the 33-year-old has taken up a coaching role with the England under-21 set-up under Lee Carsley following Ashley Cole's departure.

Why Conor Coady is back at Liverpool

Coady has also revealed that he has returned to Liverpool on a short-term basis in a supporting role alongside the club's current academy coaching staff.

Interestingly, he is also training with the under-21s - potentially opening the door to a player-coach hybrid role that Manchester United in particular have utilised in recent seasons.

United academy graduate Paul McShane returned to Old Trafford to end his playing career as a part of the U23 squad, and was effectively replaced by Tom Huddlestone when he departed the club. Teams in Premier League 2 can field up to five overage players - classed as over 21 years old - in matches.

Jay Spearing currently does the same role for Liverpool, having worked in the academy since his return in 2022.

READ MORE: Introducting the hybrid player-coach role that's being used at Man Utd and Liverpool to drive standards

'Lucky enough to get the opportunity...' - Conor Coady explains new Liverpool role

Coady joined the Liverpool academy at the age of 12 and progressed through the ranks, signing his first professional contract in 2011.

He made two appearances for the first team during the 2012/13 season before joining League One side Sheffield United on loan for the 2013/14 season. Coady signed permanently for Huddersfield following the conclusion of that loan spell.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Coady said that he was not 'massively in a rush' to find his next club, stating that he has to have the right opportunity to be a 'driving force'.

"I'm lucky enough to get the opportunity to go into Liverpool's under-21s," he stated. "I'm doing a little bit of coaching with the boys, which has been brilliant.

"The lads at Liverpool are amazing with me. The players, but also Jay Spearing and (U21 head coach) Rob Page who gave me the opportunity to come in, mirror them a little bit, be in the office before training and look at how they plan a session.

"If they need numbers, I'll jump in and keep myself fit as well. That's what it's looking like at the minute."

"I want to make a difference, whether that's on or off the pitch," he continued. "I want to be a real driving force. I struggled to get that at Wrexham, for one reason or another, and didn't get the opportunity to do so. I'm craving that, if I'm being honest.

"I'm not someone who can just sit on my hands and just enjoy going into training, come home and everything's good and you pick up your wages ... it definitely needs to be the right opportunity and the right club because I feel like I've chased a little bit over the last couple of years and I don't want to carry on doing that."