Another Liverpool loanee could be making an early Anfield return

Liverpool's Calvin Ramsay could be another loan player returning to Anfield prematurely after a disappointing loan spell thus far with Preston North End.

Ramsay arrived at the Lancashire club with high expectations, but his time on the pitch has been limited to a mere 132 minutes across just two games.

The young Scottish defender faced an early setback with a knee injury that kept him out of action for almost four months. When he returned at the end of November, he showed promise during an appearance off the bench against Middlesbrough and a full 90-minute game against Queens Park Rangers.

Since then, though, he's experienced fresh setbacks. He missed a couple of games due to illness and has since struggled to find his place in the matchday squad.

Competition for places

Preston manager Ryan Lowe, who had previously expressed optimism about the player's potential contribution to the team, has seemingly changed his stance in recent weeks, suggesting he wouldn't mind if Liverpool recalled Ramsay.

"Well, there is a possibility with everything," he said. "Again, you look at him not playing enough games; he wanted to come here and play and force his way in - which is why we signed him, to compete with [Brad] Potts[y]."

Despite Ramsay's availability, Lowe seems to prefer to rely on other players like Potts or opts for central midfielders Alan Browne or Ali McCann to fill the void on the right flank in Ramsay's absence.

"The injury set him back, then he played and then Covid set him back," Lowe continued. "He's now finding himself out of the squad, but there is a possibility with everything. We will do what is best for us and the player as well."

Dilemma

The situation presents a dilemma for Ramsay, a young player eager for game time and an opportunity to showcase his talents.

It remains to be seen if he'll be recalled to Liverpool this January in the same way centre-backs Rhys Williams and Nat Phillips had their loan spells at Aberdeen and Celtic, respectively, cut short.

Now, with Trent Alexander-Arnold set to miss "a few weeks" through injury, it could make sense for Ramsay to return to provide cover - at least in the short term.