Leighton Clarkson insists he didn’t even think about leaving Aberdeen in January because it would have been too big a risk to his Liverpool dream.
The on-loan playmaker was linked with a string of English Championship clubs during the last window. It set the alarm bells ringing within the Red Army with Clarkson more than aware of the speculation. But the 21-year-old reckons he’s shining in Scotland and remaining at Pittodrie will be the best way of catching the eye of Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.
Clarkson said: “I didn’t really read too much into speculation. There’s going to be stories and people telling you this, that and the next thing but I’m enjoying my football here at Aberdeen. It’s a big club and I want to prove – mainly to people around here – that I’m good enough for this challenge. It might have been a risk if I was to leave. It’s tough when you get thrown into new surroundings as a footballer. I just wanted to stay, play as many games as I can and try to get Aberdeen as high up the league as possible.”
It has been done in the past with Danny Ward on-loan at Aberdeen before returning to play first-team football with the Merseyside giants.
Clarkson, however, is heartened by the fact there is a pathway at Liverpool for their top academy graduates.
He said: “Yes, definitely. There are loads of young players who have gone to Liverpool and played. You look at Curtis Jones who I was always playing with when I was younger and he has been in and around it for a few years. Harvey Elliot was bought but he has come in and made his way from the 18s up there and then you have Trent Alexander-Arnold, the biggest one who took his chance.
“There is an opportunity there. It’s just about timing and I need to do what I can do on the pitch and see where that takes me.”
It is an important spell for the youngster, who knows his move north has been beneficial.
Clarkson said: “I have one year left (on his Liverpool contract). It is a big year. I just want to do as well as I can and get as many people looking at me as I can. Obviously, the aim is to play for Liverpool but it is so hard as a player so you need to not think about the future and let it take care of itself.
“The Liverpool first-team is the aim. I can only do as well as I can here. If I just keep doing what I’m doing and keep playing well then you never know what can happen at the end of the season. I’m always speaking to the physios (at Liverpool) who are checking up on me.
“The physios and fitness staff are always checking up on me and my progression in terms of the gym work I’m doing. Some of the coaches at Liverpool have spoken to me and said that, in their eyes, I’m progressing well. It’s nice to get messages from different departments and to know that you haven’t been forgotten about.”
Interim Aberdeen boss Barry Robson has tinkered with Clarkson’s position in recent weeks, with Blackburn-born ace becoming more instrumental to their play. He’s thriving in the new role and admits coming to Scotland has also helped him cope with the physical demands of the senior game.
The midfielder said: “I have always said you don’t play football with your body, you play with your head. But you do need to work on the body as much as possible and that’s what I’ve been doing. The gym work programmes are always monitored by Liverpool through Aberdeen so it’s something I’m working on.”
He had a spell in the English Championship with Blackburn but it has been up north, in the Premiership, where he has taken his career up a notch.
Clarkson admitted: “It’s proper football. I’ve been at Liverpool since I was young. I’ve only really known their culture. I found it hard last season at Blackburn and wasn’t really playing. But, in a way, it was actually the best thing that could have happened to me because I’ve come to Aberdeen and felt confident within myself. I’ve learned a lot over the past year or so and I feel like I’ve been able to do quite well here at Aberdeen.”
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