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WHEN a reporter commented on Jon Flanagan’s encouraging cameo at Norwich City on Saturday, the tone of Phil Parkinson’s reply said it all.
As the manager quickly pointed out, his Liverpool loanee was used to playing Premier League and international football – albeit less of it than he would have liked in the last couple of years. “It’s no surprise to me,” came the blunt retort.
Flanagan’s pedigree certainly shone through in the last 20 minutes at Carrow Road as he got the chance to play as an orthodox right-back in the Whites’ rejigged 4-5-1 formation. But as Parkinson now contemplates this weekend’s derby with Preston North End, the Wanderers boss faces a decision on whether to grant the Anfield academy graduate his first start.
Mark Little, one of Parkinson’s most consistent players this season, will sit out the last of his three-match suspension against North End. Filipe Morais has deputised well as a wing-back against Sunderland and in the first hour against Norwich but the success of the second-half switch to a flat back four could offer a glimpse of opportunity to Flanagan, who has had to be patient since sealing his deadline day switch from down the East Lancs Road.
Steve Parkin, himself a former full-back, admits Flanagan has been unfortunate to coincide his arrival with Wanderers’ move towards a back three.
“When we had a couple of good results we had a change of shape, which wasn’t ideal for him,” he explained. “He is more a traditional full-back than a wing-back, like Mark Little. I think if you asked him, he’d say he’s a right-back.
“But to be fair to Jon he has trained well. He was a little bit behind the rest because of his lack of games at Liverpool but that can be caught up quickly and we knew we are going to need him. He can be a key person for us.”
Flanagan had played just one EFL Cup game for Liverpool this season, a 2-0 defeat at Leicester City, and has also had to contend with off-the-field issues in the last few months.
If Wanderers can help rejuvenate a player who was in the England squad less than four years ago and playing regular Premier League football, it would be a perfect late-season boost. Much will hinge on Parkinson’s preferred choice of formation after Little’s return – but Parkin believes the 25-year-old is starting to look match fit.
“The key thing for us is to make sure he’s right up to speed as soon as we possibly can,” he said. “The challenge for us, the challenge for him is to get back up to the levels where he can start games.
“It’s sometimes difficult when you have got midweek games to get enough training into the players with all the travelling but if we can, he’s a cracking player to be challenging for a place in the team.”
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/wanderers/16050565.Does_formation_change_hold_key_for_Liverpool_exile_Jon_Flanagan_at_Wanderers_/
As the manager quickly pointed out, his Liverpool loanee was used to playing Premier League and international football – albeit less of it than he would have liked in the last couple of years. “It’s no surprise to me,” came the blunt retort.
Flanagan’s pedigree certainly shone through in the last 20 minutes at Carrow Road as he got the chance to play as an orthodox right-back in the Whites’ rejigged 4-5-1 formation. But as Parkinson now contemplates this weekend’s derby with Preston North End, the Wanderers boss faces a decision on whether to grant the Anfield academy graduate his first start.
Mark Little, one of Parkinson’s most consistent players this season, will sit out the last of his three-match suspension against North End. Filipe Morais has deputised well as a wing-back against Sunderland and in the first hour against Norwich but the success of the second-half switch to a flat back four could offer a glimpse of opportunity to Flanagan, who has had to be patient since sealing his deadline day switch from down the East Lancs Road.
Steve Parkin, himself a former full-back, admits Flanagan has been unfortunate to coincide his arrival with Wanderers’ move towards a back three.
“When we had a couple of good results we had a change of shape, which wasn’t ideal for him,” he explained. “He is more a traditional full-back than a wing-back, like Mark Little. I think if you asked him, he’d say he’s a right-back.
“But to be fair to Jon he has trained well. He was a little bit behind the rest because of his lack of games at Liverpool but that can be caught up quickly and we knew we are going to need him. He can be a key person for us.”
Flanagan had played just one EFL Cup game for Liverpool this season, a 2-0 defeat at Leicester City, and has also had to contend with off-the-field issues in the last few months.
If Wanderers can help rejuvenate a player who was in the England squad less than four years ago and playing regular Premier League football, it would be a perfect late-season boost. Much will hinge on Parkinson’s preferred choice of formation after Little’s return – but Parkin believes the 25-year-old is starting to look match fit.
“The key thing for us is to make sure he’s right up to speed as soon as we possibly can,” he said. “The challenge for us, the challenge for him is to get back up to the levels where he can start games.
“It’s sometimes difficult when you have got midweek games to get enough training into the players with all the travelling but if we can, he’s a cracking player to be challenging for a place in the team.”
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/wanderers/16050565.Does_formation_change_hold_key_for_Liverpool_exile_Jon_Flanagan_at_Wanderers_/
