Liverpool goalkeeper can’t catch a break, let alone a shot.
This time last year Danny Ward was leading Huddersfield Town to promotion and becoming a hero along the way.
His penalty shootout heroics helped the Terriers clinch their place in the Premier League, but there was no deal to be done with Liverpool to bring him permanently.
It was a surprise that no clubs made Liverpool a tempting offer for Ward last summer, or in January, and he has spent most of 2017/18 out of the matchday squad.
Ward is third choice at Liverpool behind Loris Karius and Simon Mignolet, and has not been able to get a look in despite the two goalkeepers struggling for form early in the season.
His last game came in September in the League Cup and has not played at all since.
So the prospect of game time with Wales was a welcome one for Ward… until a passport mess up put paid to his chances.
Manager Ryan Giggs was quoted by the Liverpool Echo stating: “There’s been administrative problems with the passport and his visa,” confirming the reason for Ward being left out of the squad ahead of their friendly matches in China.
After sitting on the sidelines all season and making do with under-23 appearances, the chance to actually play top level football was one Ward would have been desperate for.
Instead this adds to his nightmare campaign, somehow managing to make it worse.
There was always going to be a comedown for Ward after his dream 2016/17, but he probably didn’t realise just how challenging this season would get for him.
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