Liverpool midfielder John Welsh has agreed today to sign for Hull City on a loan until the end of the season.
Welsh was often considered to be another Steven Gerrard by staff at Liverpool’s academy, and last season the life-long Reds was captaining the reserves and making some appearances for the first team. He also earned good reviews when playing for England’s under 21 side. It was the link with the under-21s that persuaded Welsh to make the move cross country. Hull are now managed by Welsh’s boss for the under 21’s – Peter Taylor.
Commenting on the move – seen as a coup by Hull – Taylor said: "John is
a very good professional and a great passer of the ball who plays in
the middle of the park. He just needs more games and with us having
injuries to Ian Ashbee and Keith Andrews, John’s arrival will give us
cover in that area. He’s a highly-respected member of the England U21
squad and as there were a few clubs chasing his services, we’re
delighted that he has chosen to join us."
The move follows comments to Welsh from boss Rafa Benitez that the Reds
would consider offers for the player to leave the club. Despite his
initial disappointment at being given that news by Rafa, Welsh has
grown accustomed to the idea and is now looking forward to the move:
"I’m delighted with the deal. Hull is a big club and I know the manager
Peter Taylor well from the England under-21 set-up. It’s a good move
for me at this stage of my career and I’m just looking to get some
first team games under my belt and gain some valuable experience."
Welsh doesn’t want to hurry away from the club he joined at just 10
years old, and looks at current first-choice left back Stephen Warnock
as an example: "I’m not sure what the future holds for me at Liverpool
but I haven’t given up hope of coming back and making it. I know it’s
going to be difficult because there are so many good players at the
club but Stephen Warnock is a good example of a player going out on
loan then coming back to establish himself in the first team squad."
Welsh was in Hull this afternoon to finalise the details of the deal,
and he said that’s the club he will concentrate on for the time being:
"For now I am just thinking about playing for Hull and doing my best
for them. This is a club that is on the up. They’ve just enjoyed two
successive promotions, they’ve got a brand new stadium and they’re
attracting crowds in excess of 20,000. It’s an exciting time for me and
I just can’t wait to get started now."
Also moving out on loan is Liverpool’s Scotland Under-21 international
Robbie Foy. Foy has joined Liverpool’s friends at Wrexham on a loan
deal until the new year where he hopes to add to the experience he
gained on loan at Chester last season.