In the winter of 2021, Kaide Gordon, then a promising 16-year-old who had shown high potential at Derby County, sought a new home at Liverpool. The following season he gained first-team experience, playing in the Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup.
However, he was hit by bad luck. An injury forced a long-term lay-off and he was unable to return to the pitch in the 2022-23 season. He gradually regained his condition at the end of last year and has spent pre-season under new coach Arne Slot.
The young winger, now 19 years old, said he is enjoying the pre-season and training with his new coach after a long absence. In addition, he admitted that the injury period had its ups and downs, but also said that he missed the pitch when he was away.
“It has been good, a different experience obviously with a new coach. But it’s good to get away with the lads and I’ve enjoyed it so far, it’s been good.”
“It’s my first [pre-season] in two years I think. Obviously I’ve been out for a while so it’s just good to get back around it and get up to the rhythm, so I’m enjoying it.”
“You don’t realise when you’re in it, how much you miss it when you’re out of it, to be fair. Obviously it’s just good to be back involved in it, to be honest.”
“[It’s] the hardest time, there’s always ups and downs – you think you’re coming back at a certain time and you get told no, it’s longer.”
“It’s definitely the hardest time I’ve been through, but when you’re coming towards the end of it, you start to feel like you can see the end of the tunnel. Now I’m back, it’s just trying to stay back and keep involved with it all.”
“100 per cent [I feel stronger for it], because you’re just by yourself. The lads are out training and you can see them training and it’s obviously tough. But when you get back out there, you start to realise how much you miss it even more.”
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With the new season in full swing, the right winger, who was also selected for England’s U-20 squad in March 2024, revealed his eagerness for first-team action when asked about his goals for the season, saying that he wants to get playing time no matter what the situation.
“Just get minutes, to be honest, wherever it is,”
“Just hopefully get minutes.”
“I feel like I need to get a good run of games this season so I can get back up to speed with everything and get back to where I was beforehand.”
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Jurgen Klopp retired and the Dutchman was appointed head coach at Anfield. Key coaches have been replaced, training content is becoming more unique and there are differences in the style of play.
Gordon stressed that he is also enjoying the new environment and said it remains to be seen what results the new season will bring.
“It’s definitely different to how the old gaffer was, but I’m enjoying it so far and I’ll just see how the season goes, to be honest,”
“I’ve been speaking to John [Heitinga] quite a lot, he’s helping me with my finishing and all kinds of stuff like that, my positioning. It’s definitely different but I’m enjoying it.”
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