Caoimhín Kelleher is still yet to win his first Ireland cap. While we expect to see him in goals for Ireland tonight against Andorra or next Tuesday against Hungary, it seems his immediate club future lies outside of Anfield.
The Daily Mail is reporting today that the former Ringmahon Rangers striker will be sent out on loan next season in order to gain more match experience.
It seems like a no-brainer for Kelleher considering that Alisson has achieved folk hero status at Anfield this season. Despite winning a Champions League medal with Liverpool two years ago as a sub, Kelleher has only made a handful of appearances for the club at senior level across the Premier League and cup competitions. Compare that to his likely main rival for the Ireland #1 shirt across the next decade, Gavin Bazunu. The teenager spent the season on loan at Rochdale, and made 29 appearances in the process.
It was a season that promised much for Kelleher. He had a memorable Man of the Match-winning Champions League debut in December as Liverpool beat Ajax 1-0 at an empty Anfield.
He was also in goal a few days later as Liverpool beat Wolves 4-0. Still, once Allison returned to fitness, Kelleher took a place on the bench. Kelleher was in goal for Liverpool's home defeat to Brighton and he battled injury throughout the spring. An abdominal injury forced him to miss Ireland's World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Luxembourg in March.
It will be interesting to see where Kelleher ends up next season. He joins the likes of Bazunu, Troy Parrott and Jay Molumby in a large cohort of players in Stephen Kenny's Ireland camp who'll likely be out on loan next season.
The Mail is also reporting that Adrian is set to sign a one-year contract to stay on as Alisson's understudy at Anfield.
SEE ALSO: Here's The Experimental Ireland Team We Want To See Against Andorra
