Stephen Kenny wades into Caoimhín Kelleher Liverpool debate again

Patrick McCarry

We’re sure Jürgen Klopp will be delighted with this.

Stephen Kenny has, not for the first time, aired his opinion that Caoimhin Kelleher needs to move on from Liverpool and establish himself as a No.1 with another club.

The Ireland manager was speaking at a press conference after his squad for games against Greece and Gibraltar was announced.

Kelleher made four first team appearances for the Reds in his debut season, then six last season. He has only appeared three times for Liverpool this season and conceded four in a 4-4 draw as Klopp’s side closed out their Premier League campaign against relegated Southampton.

“Caoimhín has never let us down,” said Kenny. “He’s a very talented goalkeeper, and hopefully… it looks like he’ll be on the move this summer.

“[A move] will only benefit him, as he needs to play games because he has been starved of games this year, and that has been a problem for him. He’s very, very talented. It’s hard to leave Liverpool – they are such an iconic club – but he’s not so young any more. He’s 24 now and he needs to play, and he knows that.”

Asked if he had spoken with the Cork native about him needing to find regular first-team football, Kenny said, “Yes, I’ve been speaking to him regularly over the last year or two. He knows that himself. He knew it earlier in the season and I think he has been in dialogue with Liverpool about that for a long time. It’s most likely it will happen in the summer.”

Stephen Kenny on Gavin Bazunu and Liam Scales

Jürgen Klopp has previously said the future of Caoimhín Kelleher is between the club and the player. He was also critical, last season, of Kelleher coming back from international duty with an injury. The goalkeeper has been linked with moves to Brentford and Tottenham, in recent weeks.

Kenny said it would normally be out of bounds to speculate on the future of a club player but ‘he is behind probably one of the best club ‘keepers in the world [in Alisson] and that situation is not going to improve’. He added that it ‘would not be a surprise’ if Kelleher moves on.

On Gavin Bazunu, the other goalkeeper pressing to start for Ireland, Kenny pointed out that ‘Southampton didn’t exactly improve’ when they dropped the former Shamrock Rovers, Manchester City and Portsmouth stopper.

“For Ireland, he’s always been very good,” the Ireland boss said. “He’s always played very well for us.”

Aberdeen defender Liam Scales is included in the squad after Ryan Manning declined an invite due to ‘personal seasons’. The former Shamrock Rovers and Celtic man can play full-back, Kenny noted, or on the left side of a back three.