Liverpool have confirmed youngster Kaide Gordon has returned to the club after cutting his loan at Norwich City short.

The 20-year-old signed for the Canaries on a short-term deal in August but failed to establish himself in the team. He started only one league game in the first half of the season and has played just five minutes across the last six games.

He even dropped down to represent the Under-23s in October and the loan move clearly wasn’t working for all parties. Reports emerged on Sunday that Gordon was set to return to Liverpool and the news was confirmed the following day.

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“Kaide Gordon has returned to parent club Liverpool from his loan spell at Norwich City,” the Championship club said via a statement.

“The winger joined City on deadline day of the summer transfer window, and would go on to make 10 appearances, scoring one goal. All at the club thank Kaide for his effort and commitment while part of the Norwich City squad.”

The 20-year-old joined Liverpool from Derby County in 2021 and ironically made his first-team debut against Norwich in an EFL Cup win. Gordon netted in the FA Cup win over Shrewsbury Town later in January 2022 and became the club’s youngest-ever scorer.

He has made seven appearances for Liverpool, including two in the Premier League, and last played for the Reds in February. The talented attacker has been capped by England at youth level and played in all six of the Under-20s matches earlier this season.

The Athletic reports that Gordon will leave Liverpool again on loan for the second half of the season, although a league and club have not yet emerged. Impressing in a second loan spell will be important for Gordon at this stage of his development.

The news comes at time when Arne Slot is handing minutes to those who have stood out for the youth team and was asked about the importance of the club’s academy ahead of the Premier League trip to Nottingham Forest.

“That’s very important for every club but especially for this club. I said that earlier and it’s important the club brings talent through the ranks.

“It’s nice to see there are some youngsters who are having an impact in our team and on games. It’s nice because it gives good energy in the building if academy players are playing well. Jayden [Danns] scoring [against Accrington Stanley], Rio [Ngumoha] impressing, Trey [Nyoni] assisting.”