Jay Spearing has been linked with a move away from Liverpool, is his exit inevitable?
As Brendan Rodgers looks for a solution to the Liverpool jigsaw puzzle, Jay Spearing is looking like more and more of a piece which doesn’t fit.
He is wanted on loan by Championship side Bolton for the season, a step down a level he would prefer not to have to take.
Spearing is 23, and spent a short period of time on loan with Leicester back in 2009-10, and would have hoped by now that going out on loan would be behind him.
It was back after impressing in the Merseyside Derby 18 months ago when Kenny Dalglish first took over that the Scot even joked that Spearing might keep Steven Gerrard out of the side.
Fast forward to the present, and such a comment is no laughing matter for Liverpool fans.
The midfielder’s progress has stunted since then despite an initial flourish under Dalglish, but last season he failed to kick on. He played just 16 times in the Premier League last season, which included one red card.
It was when Lucas was injured that Spearing was really required to step up, but the task was too large for him. He started the FA Cup Final only to be substituted early in the second half, and was an unused sub in the League Cup Final against Cardiff.
He didn’t feature at all in Liverpool’s final three league games last season, and was not used in the club’s opening defeat to West Brom.
With Lucas fully fit, Steven Gerrard also healthy, and Joe Allen signed, competition for places is looking tough. If Spearing couldn’t hold down a regular slot when Lucas was injured, his chances do not look good for the coming season.
Then when you add in the duo of Jordan Henderson and Jonjo Shelvey, and even Charlie Adam should he stay, and it appears as though the Merseyside-born midfielder may be best off looking elsewhere for first team football.
He was handed a new deal earlier this year, so a transfer elsewhere looks unlikely. Supporters may be far from convince that the midfielder has what it takes to succeed at the club, so he has it all to prove.
If part of that process includes going out on loan, he should take the opportunity, for it is very unlikely he will be a Liverpool regular this season.
What should Liverpool do with Spearing?
image: © faisalzaman
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