Liverpool have recalled left-back Brad Smith early from his loan at League One outfit Swindon Town despite having both Jose Enrique and Alberto Moreno already competing heavily for a starting berth at Anfield.
“Brad Smith has been recalled by Liverpool so Brad is no longer with us,” explained Robins boss Mark Cooper when queried about the youngster. “He started to look as though he was going to produce. It took him a while to get used to the way we played but he started to show glimpses of what we brought him in for. When there is that recall clause in the loan you always know it can happen. That’s football.”
While it seems a bit odd to see the Reds pull back a talented youngster from a developmental loan with no explanation whatsoever, questions have been raised about Moreno after he was left out of the Spain u21’s loss to Serbia last Tuesday and out of the Reds squad that laboured to a win against Queens Park Rangers on Sunday. That the defender picked up an injury at some point would be the most plausible explanation, but speaking ahead of the loss to Serbia, national team boss Albert Celades rubbished that idea.
“He has no issue,” said the Spanish boss when asked about the 22-year old. “There is no physical problem or anything preventing him from playing. It was a tactical decision because we thought that when it came to this match, Gaya would be a better choice for that position.”
More on both of these questions as things come out in the wash…
