‘Not if, but when’ - Liverpool told youngster who has 'everything' is destined for first team

Liverpool have been told that it is only a matter of time before Conor Bradley establishes himself as a first-team star.

The Northern Ireland international, signed from Dungannon Swifts in 2019, has made a total of five appearances for the Reds. Injury has prevented the 20-year-old from making a further impact at Anfield this season but Bradley enjoyed a breakthrough loan spell with Bolton Wanderers last term, scooping up the club’s Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year awards, as well as sharing Bolton's Young Player of the Year.

The right-back made a total of 53 appearances as the Lancashire side reached the League One play-offs and won the EFL Trophy. While with the Trotters, Bradley played alongside international team-mate Dion Charles, who has backed the full-back to break into the Liverpool side, once he returns to full fitness.

Jurgen Klopp has quietly found 'complete' attacker to help Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez

The £11bn forecast that makes Liverpool an enticing investment

"Conor is incredible. He can go as far as he wants," Charles told BBC Sport. "That kid has everything, he's intelligent, such a good player.

"The biggest thing about his mentality is he wants to learn, he wants to get better, so when he's back fit it will be interesting to see not if, but when, he gets in the Liverpool team."

It is fair to suggest that Bradley faces an uphill battle to compete with Trent Alexander-Arnold for his right-back berth, but Charles believes the young defender is capable of doing exactly that. Bradley has already earned 13 caps for his country and his absence from Northern Ireland’s upcoming games was described as a ‘big miss’ by his former Bolton team-mate.

"The type of character Conor is, he'll be