Paul Glatzel, a striker, was appointed to Liverpool’s 23-man senior squad on Wednesday, despite having a difficult four years.
Glatzel was on track to succeed under Jurgen Klopp in 2019, but an ACL injury sustained in his first preseason game set back his progress.
Since then, the attacker has suffered from a number of injuries, including two serious hamstring issues while on repeated Tranmere loans.
As he improves his fitness, Liverpool gave Glatzel a new contract earlier in the summer. On September 3, he will make his first competitive appearance with the U21s against Middlesbrough.
Supporters may have been surprised by his selection for the club’s Premier League squad given that the other 22 players chosen were regulars.
Glatzel, however, was no longer able to compete as a U21 player because he had to be registered as a senior player after turning 22 in February.
Therefore, Glatzel had to be added even though others like Ryan Gravenberch, Harvey Elliott, Stefan Bajcetic, Ben Doak, Conor Bradley, and Jarell Quansah were not.
The Liverpool-born attacker wouldn’t have been eligible to play any football for the team in the first half of the season if he hadn’t been.
Because Glatzel is a homegrown player, Jurgen Klopp’s team would not lose a vital non-homegrown spot if he were to play.
Having signed up 16 foreign players so far, Liverpool does have room for one more, so a January signing is plausible.
Regular appearances at the youth level can help him achieve this goal. After a dismal run of injuries, this campaign will be seen as a chance to get fit and sharp again.
Glatzel will likely undergo another evaluation in January in preparation for a potential loan move, although he may also be called into senior training if necessary.
If Klopp changes up his lineup, he might be more likely to use players like Lewis Koumas, Bobby Clark, and Melkamu Frauendorf in domestic cup matches.
