Borini Injury, A Blessing In Disguise?

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Liverpool was dealt a blow with the news that Fabio Borini has suffered a break in his right foot while training with Italy’s under 21 squad. The news has brought concern to Liverpool’s striking options, with only Luis Suarez left as their only recognised striker after loaning Andy Carroll to West Ham without bringing any strikers in during the summer transfer window. Andy Carroll can’t return back to Anfield until January at the earliest, which leaves Liverpool lacking options in their striking department.

But is Borini’s loss really that big a blow ? He has only scored once in his short time at Liverpool since his big money move from Roma in the summer so his provision of goals certainly won’t be missed, although his role as another striking option will be.

One player’s misfortune can become another player’s good fortune and with Liverpool’s wealth of talent at youth level, this can give another one of the younger players a golden opportunity to impress.

Brendan Rodgers has already introduced youngsters into the first team this season, mostly because his options are limited but some youngsters have earned their place ahead of big money signings like Stewart Downing and Jordan Henderson, and with Liverpool’s lack of striking options, never mind experienced striking options, Liverpool’s young strikers will be Brendan Rodgers’ only option.

Adam Morgan is a natural goalscorer who has risen through the Academy to the fringes of the first-team squad, and this could be his big chance after featuring already this season.
Having top scored at different age groups throughout his formative years, Morgan was given a chance to shine when newly appointed Brendan Rodgers invited him on the club’s tour of North America in the summer of 2012.
A goal in a friendly against FC Toronto was followed with a manager-hugging celebration – and it was clear Rodgers was a fan of the youngster’s attitude.
Morgan made his senior debut as a substitute during a Europa League play-off at Hearts on August 23, 2012 – and started in the return leg a week later.
The Scouser featured in the U17 World Cup in 2011 and now represents England U19s.

Samed Yesil is only 17, but one of Germany’s most promising young strikers. Brendan Rodgers signed him this summer from Bayer Leverkusen.

A prolific scorer among the youth divisions in his home country, Yesil’s reputation grew with each goal and teammates began to nickname the prodigy ‘Gerd’ after the legendary German striker Gerd Muller.
Yesil has tremendous potential, and he has started for Liverpool’s first team already in their win over West Brom in the Capital One Cup, and he may now get more chances in the first team.

Jerome Sinclair is a forward who has the distinction of being the youngest player ever to represent Liverpool.
The Academy hopeful earned a first-team debut at the age of 16 years and six days when he was brought on during a League Cup victory at West Brom on September 26, 2012.
The record had previously been held by current teammate Jack Robinson.
Sinclair actually joined the Reds from the Baggies and made his U18s debut in 2011-12.
The teenager has scored goals for both England U16s and U17s.

Sinclair could be fast-tracked to the first team set-up now with Borini’s injury.

Michael Ngoo is another option for Brendan Rodgers. Signed from Southend United in September 2009, Ngoo is a towering striker with an eye for goal.
The starlet is an imposing presence in the attacking third with impressive technique and a good turn of pace.
He continued to progress throughout his first year with the Reds and capped a fine term with a sublime Maradona-esque solo goal in a 3-0 win at Stoke City.
Injury would disrupt what was a promising start to the 2010-11 campaign but he still managed to finish as the U18s’ second-top scorer with 15 goals.
He also made several appearances for the reserves before being named in the England U20 World Cup squad in Colombia.

So there does not seem to be a need to panic with the injury to Borini as these youngsters will be hungry for a chance in the first team and I’m sure any one of them will be able to make the step up to first team level.

The injury is a huge blow for Borini as he is still settling into life at Liverpool, but his injury could be a blessing in disguise for another youngster and for Brendan Rodgers in his rebuilding of Liverpool Football Club.

7 Comments

  1. The last thing we needed was anouther loss to our strike force. We are competing in 4 competitions with 1 striker. How is this a blessing?

  2. For once I disagree with you, Jamie. Borini, from what I’ve seen, is the player missing in the squad. He makes tireless runs into the box, constantly asking for the ball. His instinct is there, though the finishing could us some improvement. One reason why he probably isn’t playing as well as we hoped is that he is playing on the flanks.

    The players you mentioned as possible ‘blessings’ are all in the central striker position and I don’t see them flourishing as a winger. Seeing that BR is adamant at placing Suarez at the tip of the spear, I doubt those players will come in anytime soon. But if BR does put them there, I would have hoped that he would have done that for Borini instead.

    To be honest, as awed as we are over the development of Suso and Sterling, their supply to the striker doesn’t match the hype that they are given. A good winger should be making a striker’s job as easy as possible. But from what I’ve seen, Suarez still has alot to do before he even gets a sniff on goal.

  3. BR wasnt even picking Borini lately, he chose to send Joe Cole on as a sub last week. Why spend 10m on a striker and not pick him? Bizarre decision.

  4. Wow! A true optimist! However a none of those strikers you mentioned have shown that they can do anything yet at a senior level. Only Suso and Steerling have shown anything to be excited about.

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