Stefan Bajcetic made his first look at any stage since March as he got here off the bench for Spain U21s, doing so in a distinct function to ordinary.
After a formidable run of begins for Liverpool’s first group within the second half of final season, Bajcetic noticed an adductor harm finish his marketing campaign early.
His layoff ate into pre-season, too, with the 18-year-old unable to characteristic in any of the Reds’ warmup friendlies in Germany, Singapore and the UK.
However Bajcetic has made the bench for the final three video games within the Premier League, along with his health sufficient to earn him a call-up to Spain’s U21s squad this month.
Friday night noticed Spain go to Malta of their Euro qualifier, and supervisor Santi Denia noticed it as a possibility to combine Bajcetic.
Coming off the bench with 25 minutes to play in a 6-0 win, it was not solely Bajcetic’s debut for Spain U21s, but in addition his first sport at any stage since Liverpool’s 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth in March.
He changed Rafa Marin with Spain already 4 objectives forward, and did so at centre-back, slightly than his regular midfield function.
It got here after Denia instructed AS that he sees Liverpool’s No. 43 emulating Valencia’s Hugo Guillamon, who he had beforehand utilized in each defence and midfield.
“When he performed within the youth groups, he performed centre-back. I believe he can provide us options in that place,” Denia defined.
“It could be like Guillamon within the earlier technology, that he can occupy a number of positions. I’ve spoken with him and he agrees with that function.”
As Denia famous, it was not the primary time Bajcetic had performed centre-back, having arrived on Merseyside in 2020 as a pure in that function.
However the determination was quickly made to maneuver {the teenager} additional up the pitch than he had been used to at Celta Vigo, and he’s now thought of succesful as each No. 6 and No. 8.
His versatility will undoubtedly be helpful in years to return, with there even a prospect of him filling in with the playmaking right-back function loved by Trent Alexander-Arnold.
For now, the principle constructive is his return from harm, with one other probability to characteristic on Monday when Spain host Ben Doak‘s Scotland.