Wataru Endo is assured he might be given the sport time he wants at Liverpool this season regardless of a sluggish begin, insisting that “you may’t simply use 11 gamers.”
Endo has fallen out of favour at Liverpool following the appointment of Arne Slot, with the 31-year-old solely taking part in one minute within the first three video games of the season.
Ryan Gravenberch is Slot’s new first selection within the No. 6 position, after a summer time that noticed a failed pursuit of Actual Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi.
It’s clear that the top coach favours a extra technically sound possibility as his deepest midfielder, even switching Alexis Mac Allister there for Sunday’s 3-0 win over Man United.
However regardless of Mac Allister, Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai beginning in midfield for every of Liverpool’s first three video games of the marketing campaign, Endo is adamant he might be given his probability.
“When the worldwide break is completed there’s a run of video games so I’ll get extra possibilities,” he advised AFP after Japan’s 7-0 win over China on Thursday.
“You may’t simply use 11 gamers when you might have a whole lot of video games. I’m positive I’ll get my flip.”
As Endo factors out, whereas Liverpool solely performed as soon as every week of their first run of video games as much as the September break, the fixture checklist is far busier upon their return.
With the beginning of the expanded Champions League as effectively their Carabao Cup conflict with West Ham, Slot’s aspect will play seven occasions between their return to motion on September 14 and their remaining recreation earlier than the subsequent internationals on October 5.
That features a stretch of 5 video games in 15 days, with Endo more likely to be rotated in to permit the likes of Gravenberch and Mac Allister relaxation.
“My bodily situation gained’t be an issue. I’ve been coaching effectively and I’m not nervous about it,” he continued.
“At my age I’ve expertise so getting a really feel for video games isn’t an issue.
“I really feel I can carry out effectively on this spherical of World Cup qualifiers. The necessary factor is to coach and put together effectively.”
Japan will proceed their third-round qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup with a visit to Bahrain on Tuesday evening, with Endo more likely to begin once more as captain.
Liverpool have already seen Harvey Elliott pull out of England U21s responsibility this month because of damage, whereas Curtis Jones has been sidelined and Mac Allister suffered a minor subject in Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Chile on Thursday evening.
