Liverpool talent wants to follow Conor Bradley after $5.4m transfer and Andy Robertson advice

Since Calvin Ramsay signed for Liverpool in the summer of 2022, his game time has been limited both while he has been with the Reds and also out on loan.

Ramsay, still only 21, has made just two appearances for Liverpool so far, starting against Derby County in the Carabao Cup in 2022, and then coming off the bench against Napoli in the Champions League. Those games came within nine days of one another.

But while he hasn’t played as often as he would have liked, his talent should not be forgotten. In 2021/22, Ramsay was named as the Scottish Football Writers Young Player of the Season and made his international debut at U21 level.

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This season, hopefully with his injury troubles behind him, Ramsay is on loan with Wigan Athletic. And things are slowly starting to click into gear: he has played at least half a game four times so far and has featured in every match in which he has been in the matchday squad — eight out of a possible 14 in League One.

"It’s been good and I’m enjoying it," he tells Liverpool.com. "I’ve played a few games now — not as much as I would have liked, but I’ve started a few and come on in a few. In the games I’ve played, I’ve played well, and it’s just about every chance I get, trying to show what I can do.

"It’s a long season and hopefully I can nail my place as the starting right-back. It’s a good changing room, all the lads are good, and I’m really enjoying it. Last season, I didn’t play much so I knew myself that I needed to play.

"For every young player, it’s important that you get minutes and game time, so definitely when I came here, it’s a good club and the manager’s brilliant. I’m just aiming to play as much as I can this season."

Signed from Aberdeen for an initial fee of around $5.4m (£4.2m/€5.0m), Ramsay his injury troubles are now behind him. He only made two appearances on loan at Preston North End in the Championship in the first half last season because of a knee problem, and then only managed to play in three games for Bolton Wanderers in the second.

"It’s annoying but I always tell myself it’s part of the game," he says. "It happens. You’re never going to go through your career without getting any injuries.

"It’s just about how you come back from it and if I come back and play a lot of games and play well, then that’s all I can do. It’s just about focusing on the games and doing the best I can.

"At Liverpool at the minute, my game time would have been very limited. Like I say, with the season I had with injuries, I needed to play. To get out on loan to League One with a good club, that was my main aim.

"I had a few options but once I spoke to the manager at Wigan, I knew that I wanted to come here and give everything for Wigan. Hopefully I can do that."

Ramsay was initially out on loan with another Liverpool starlet, Luke Chambers, who also spent the second half of last season on loan with Wigan. Chambers, though, has picked up an injury of his own — a back issue — which has seen him head back to Merseyside.

"I saw Luke at the end of last season at one of the Liverpool games when he has just come back," Ramsay says. "I asked him out it was because I knew there was interest in me and he was positive.

"He didn’t have a bad word to say and said the boys were brilliant. That probably made my mind up, and obviously I spoke to my agent and things like that as well.

"[Shaun Maloney] had a top football career and as a manager, he is brilliant tactically. He has got a strict way of playing and if you don’t do that, you won’t play. So it’s just about learning and developing and playing how he wants to play.

"If I do that, I’ll start most games. I’m still in the early stages of my career but it’s still a bit different to how it was at Aberdeen and then at Liverpool. The way he wants to play is almost like Premier League level; he wants to keep the ball and he will change things during the game.

"If we keep going and do what he’s saying then we’ll be back up there and hopefully can end up being promoted. I’m learning and doing everything I can.

"If you want to play at the top, you’ve got to go to clubs that want to win things and get promotions. A middling team, you’re not going to develop as much. If you go to a club that’s looking to be promoted, it’s only going to help you.

"Liverpool are in contact all the time. Matt Newberry is the loans manager and I’ve been speaking with him. There is the physio as well, who asks about what I’m doing and making sure I’m on top of everything. They’re always in contact and asking how I’m getting on, so that’s good."

Ramsay says he hasn’t yet had the chance to properly sit down with new Liverpool boss Arne Slot. "As soon as he came in, I went out on loan," he explains. "I’ve not had the chance to speak yet but I’m sure down the line, I will."

He stays in touch with several Reds players, though. "I still speak to a few of the young players and the more experienced ones as well," he continues. "Andy Robertson, he was injured, so I was asking him how he was getting on; he was asking me how I was doing and things like that.

"So they do keep in contact. It’s a good club and everyone wishes me the best. Hopefully I can take on that advice and do well this season."

Ramsay’s long-term aim is to go back to Liverpool. "Everyone knows the size of the club and how good that would be," he says. "Conor Bradley has obviously done well and he went out on loan to League One and then went straight into the first team. There’s no reason why I can’t do that.

"I think I’ve shown in games that I have played what I can do and how I can affect games, so if I continue to work hard and get plenty of games under my belt, then next season hopefully I can go into pre-season with them and be the best I can.

"It’s just about working as hard as you can and whatever happens after that happens. Ability-wise, I think I can be in that Liverpool squad.

"In the last year and half, I’ve not been able to show that because of the lack of games. I know I keep saying it, but it is just about keeping playing. I know what I can do and I need to go out and show it."

Ramsay is fighting for a place in the team under Maloney with Jamie Carragher’s son, James, who has come through the Wigan academy. "He’s a good lad," Ramsay says.

"I’ve spoken to him a few times and I’ve played with him a couple of times in Carabao Cup games. He’s good to play alongside. He’s vocal and he’s done well when he’s come in. It’s always good to have competition."

Liverpool — and Ramsay — will be hoping he comes out on top in that battle and can kick on again, possibly starting today against Wycombe. The talent is certainly there.