Martin Kelly is hoping that he can benefit from the Premier League’s new home-grown squad ruling and add to his solitary league appearance for Liverpool.
The promising defender – who was an unused substitute as England under-21s beat Lithuania 3-0 last night – is still only 20-years-old so can supplement the 21-man Barclays Premier League squad Roy Hodgson was able to name last week.
Kelly has made eight appearances in total for Liverpool, but his only league appearance to date was against Portsmouth last season.
The youngster is a confirmed advocate of the League’s new home-grown ruling.
“It’s the right rule to bring in because it’s good for us to get opportunities,” he declared.
“If you don’t take your chance then you don’t take it, but as long as you’re given it, that’s what matters.
“That’s what seems to be happening with the home-grown rule and it’s helping quite a bit.
“Roy Hodgson just told me to keep working hard.
“It’s a great experience working with a manager like Roy.
“Working with him and the players here is the best thing I can be doing at this moment in my career.
“I am enjoying the fact I am training day in, day out with such good players and such good management staff.”
Kelly made his U21s debut earlier this year against Uzbekistan – and scored.
Last night he didn’t play, but two goals from Sunderland’s on-loan striker Danny Welbeck and another from Aston Villa’s Marc Albrighton gave Stuart Pearce’s side a 3-0 victory.
Kelly added: “It was one of my targets last season.
“When I played for the U19s, I was telling my family I wanted to play for the U21s.
“Going to work with a manager like Stuart Pearce was brilliant, as was working with all the top young players who are coming through and just breaking into the senior squads at their clubs.”
Liverpool confirmed yesterday that Dirk Kuyt, meanwhile, will be out of action for four weeks with a shoulder injury.
The club’s medical team examined the Dutchman following his early return from international duty.
Liverpool’s head of sports medicine and sports science Dr Peter Brukner said: “Dirk has damaged his shoulder at the A-C joint, which is between the collar bone and the shoulder.
“He is likely to be out for four weeks.”
The Dutch media have reported that the injury was sustained after Kuyt fell awkwardly attempting a bicycle kick in training.
The 30-year-old now appears likely to miss games against Birmingham, Steaua Bucharest, Manchester United, Northampton, Sunderland and an emotional return to former club Utrecht.
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