Ex-youth captain RETURNS to Liverpool after 3 years

Liverpool welcome back one of their former top prospects after three years away. Things are very different now, though.

Tom Clayton has rejoined Liverpool after leaving the club back in 2022. The former midfielder does so as an assistant coach with the Under 16s, per This Is Anfield.

Clayton was once the captain of Liverpool's Under 21s team and held that role in a very talented team. As TIA point out, Conor Bradley, Jarell Quansah, Tyler Morton and Owen Beck were all in that side - the first three are now regulars in elite European leagues.

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Clayton, however, never broke into Liverpool's senior side, leaving in 2022 without a senior appearance. From there he joined Swindon Town but a serious injury has ended his professional career.

Liverpool were happy to welcome Clayton back into the fold, though, and he takes up a coaching role at 24. A pivot, then - but one that might still see him make an impact at Anfield.

The report from TIA is quick to point out, though, that 'it remains to be seen if this will be a long-term position for Clayton or if he holds ambitions of returning to a playing role elsewhere'. Perhaps this is just a tide-over, then, but it could end up being so much more.

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Tom Clayton returns

Clayton certainly isn't the only former youth talent working in a coaching role at Liverpool. Jay Spearing is perhaps the most high-profile example - he's with the Under 21s, for whom he sometimes appears.

TIA points out that Jordan Hunter, Michael Yates, Jon Newby, Steve Gorst and Joel Bonner are all in similar situations to Clayton, too. Ex-youth talents who moved into coaching roles at Liverpool.

It's always an interesting career path and one that not only gives people real opportunities to make it in the game but also, importantly, continues a sense of unity within Liverpool. The coaches now the pathway themselves - and that can only be a useful thing.

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