"One of the best I've seen" - Liverpool youngster shines out on loan

Aberdeen manager Jim Goodwin has heaped praise on Liverpool loanee Leighton Clarkson, after the youngster impressed on his debut at the weekend.

The Dons ran out 4-1 winners over St Mirren in their opening Scottish Premier League match, and Clarkson managed to get on the scoresheet, scoring a long-range piledriver on the brink of half-time.

The 20-year-old midfielder was introduced in the 12th minute following an injury to Hayden Coulson and produced a display that sparked praise from his new coach.

Speaking via Aberdeen Live, Goodwin went as far saying that Clarkson’s debut was one of the best he’d ever seen.

“Even though we are carrying two or three injuries at the moment, we’ve got adequate replacements in the squad."

"You saw that at the weekend when (Hayden) Coulson goes off we just moved (Liam) Scales to left-back and (Ross) McCrorie dropped in, then wee Leighton Clarkson came on and had one of the best debuts I’ve seen in a long, long time.” 

Clarkson joined the Scottish side earlier this summer on a season-long loan from Anfield, as he looks to receive regular game time with a long-term view of breaking into the Reds’ first team in mind.

The England under-20 international spent part of the 2021/22 campaign with Blackburn Rovers, but the deal was cut short in January after he made just two appearances for the Lancashire side. 

Jurgen Klopp views Clarkson as a part of his long-term plans, and the starlet has made three appearances for the Merseyside club, making his debut in December 2019 against Aston Villa in the EFL Cup.

With the likes of Thiago Alcantara, Jordan Henderson and James Milner all on the wrong side of 30, opportunities may arise for some of Liverpool’s young midfielders in the future and a positive season north of the border could put Clarkson in the picture in this department in the coming seasons.