Caoimhín Kelleher may currently be in the midst of a run in the Liverpool team due to an injury picked up by Alisson Becker, but it is likely that it won't be long until he returns to the bench at Anfield.
Now 25-years old, the Cork man has yet to have a sustained run of first team football up to this stage in his career. He has spent his all of his time at club level as a backup to Alisson, while he has also filled a similar role at international level behind Gavin Bazunu.
While he may be one of the best no. 2s around, that should not be the height of his ambitions. It was thought that Kelleher would seek a move away from Liverpool last summer, although he did not seem to push for a transfer away from the club and instead stayed put.
Some feel he might have missed out on a huge opportunity by doing so.
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Did Caoimhín Kelleher miss out on massive move last summer?
There were quite a few English clubs in the market for a goalkeeper last summer, with Caoimhín Kelleher linked with the likes of Brighton, Brentford, Luton Town, and Spurs at various stages.
Speaking on Premier Sports this evening ahead of his start against Sheffield United, Kenny Cunningham said that he believed that the Irishman could even have ended up at Chelsea or Arsenal had he pushed for a move away from Anfield at the end of last season.
This is only a shop window if he has made the conscious decision that he wants to move, that has got to be the next step. I'm not sure that is exactly Caoimhín's mindset at this moment in time.
I thought last summer was a great opportunity for him to bounce. There was some big clubs in the Premier League looking to strengthen in that area of the pitch, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Spurs all went and spent on goalkeepers.
I think on the back of last season he could have easily sprung into one of those clubs. It hasn't happened. I don't see him playing with quite the same confidence this season as he did last year.
Nothing is going to change in the short-term, but come the summer, he is going to have a big decision to make.
21 November 2023; Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher makes a save during the international friendly match between Republic of Ireland and New Zealand at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
A move to the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, or Spurs certainly would have been an incredible opportunity, even if it was unlikely. However, there is no doubt he would have got an opportunity at a very high level he the looked to leave Liverpool
Also speaking on Premier Sports, Neil Lennon said that these next few games could have a big impact on deciding on how Caoimhín Kelleher's career plays out.
This is a big spell for him now on personal level, not just in his career.
There's going to be a lot Irish fans and potential Irish coaches watching him in this spell. Alisson isn't going to be out for a long time and he hasn't played a lot of football Caoimhín, he needs to show that he can perform at this level...
IHe has done it in cup finals, in cup games against Premier League opposition, but he hasn't played a consistent run of games for a long long time. That's why Bazunu is getting the nod ahead of him.
In the goalkeeping department, compared to a lot of other countries, Ireland are well off. What you want is that competition and somebody to push. We don't know if Caoimhín is the one to do that at the minute.
From a personal point of view, he needs to play and he needs to play well.
It is certainly a massive opportunity for Caoimhín Kelleher, one he needs to take with both hands.
At some point in the near future, he needs to start considering what the next step in his career might be.
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