Ifeanyi Ndukwe: Liverpool's young player who has not played in the Premier League

Ifeanyi Ndukwe, 18, has played a key role in Liverpool's pre-season, especially with other defenders in the team injured. His performances, in which he played alongside captain Virgil van Dijk, have managed to grab the attention of fans. However, due to Brexit rules they have not been able to score the points required to play in the Premier League.

Why it matters

Ifeanyi Ndukwe's emergence is crucial for Liverpool, especially as the team is facing a shortage of players in central defence. His young talent and recent performances have raised expectations among fans and the coaching staff. However, due to Brexit rules he will not be able to take part in competitive matches in the Premier League, which could be a hindrance to his development.

Key points

• Ifeanyi Ndukwe: Liverpool's young player who did not play in the Premier League.
• Liverpool's young defender Ifeanyi Ndukwe has been performing well in pre-season, but is unable to take part in competitive matches due to Brexit rules.
• Ifeanyi Ndukwe: The Liverpool teenager who can't play in Premier League because of Brexit - BBC Sport.

Liverpool's first pre-season under new coach Andoni Eriola has not been without some challenges, but the emergence of 18-year-old defender Ifeanyi Ndukwe is a positive sign. The Reds have won two and lost two from four friendlies so far, including wins against Sunderland and Wrexham, while squandering two-goal leads against Leeds and Monaco.

Eriola's team is facing a shortage of players in central defence, so Austrian teenager Ndukwe has been given more minutes than he probably expected. Joe Gomez picked up an injury in Liverpool's first pre-season match, while £60 million new signing Jeremy Jacquet remained absent with a minor knee problem and Giovanni Leoni is recovering from a serious knee injury. Ndukwe has seized this opportunity to prove his ability.

Ndukwe has already played 90 minutes twice and 80 minutes once and he is set to start alongside captain Virgil van Dijk against Monaco at Anfield on Sunday. And it soon became clear that the 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) youngster was succeeding in capturing the fans' attention when he produced a deft backheel that sent Monaco's Mika Biereth the wrong way, and won key defensive tackles.

However, the problem facing Eriola is that Ndukwe will miss Liverpool's first Premier League match against Newcastle. Due to Brexit rules he has not been able to score the points required to play in competitive matches. Following Brexit, and since the UK is no longer part of the European Union, clubs have had to navigate a more complex work permit system to ensure that players — particularly those not established at the top level — are able to play in England.

Austrian youth international Ndukwe currently does not have the points required to obtain a work visa. There is another route, known as the Elite Significant Contribution (ESC) slot, which is offered to overseas players who do not qualify for the standard GBE. Premier League and Championship clubs have four ESC places available based on the percentage of minutes played by England qualified players (EQP) in the previous season. But clubs do not automatically receive all four places. The "magic number" is 35%, meaning clubs can use four ESC players. Dropping below that number starts reducing the number of ESC slots.

Liverpool's percentage last season allows only one ESC spot, which has already been taken by Senegal's 18-year-old Mor Talla Ndiaye. Last season, Freddie Woodman, Gomez, Rhys Williams, Curtis Jones, Trey Nuoni and Rio Ngumoha were the only English players in Liverpool's squad, who made a combined 83 appearances in the Premier League. All this came as Liverpool lost Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jarrell Quansah and Tyler Morton and sent Harvey Elliott out on loan.

After developing in the Austria Vienna academy, Ndukwe established himself in the club's reserve side, and made several appearances for the senior squad, including playing once. Liverpool signed the talented youngster after his impressive performances for Austria at the Under-17 World Cup last November. The Reds reached an agreement in January, but the £2.6 million transfer became official this summer, when Ndukwe turned 18.

Ndukwe could still feature in Liverpool's final friendly against Como after a stellar preseason performance that left fans desperate to see the teenager again. Van Dijk played alongside Ndukwe in the first half against Monaco, describing him as a "big talent". “Of course, I watched the pre-season matches in America,” Van Dijk said. "Big talent, big lad and he wants to learn. I had a brief chat with him in recent days. For him, it's just about progressing. I know he has to go on loan. Let's see where he ends up. The reality is he has to go on loan and wherever he goes he has to learn, get better and when he comes back he has to be there."

A decision on Ndukwe's next steps is expected within the next fifteen days. In July, Ndukwe's agent Georg Lederer told Sky Sports Austria: "A loan club will now be found where Ifeyan can gain experience playing at a very high level. Despite this change, we see this situation as a great opportunity for Ifeyan. Several top international clubs have already shown solid interest." Lederer told BBC Sport on Monday that they were still in the process of deciding where Ndukwe would go to Europe. But where will he end up? Ndukwe must score 15 points in several categories to automatically qualify for the visa. Simply put, depending on the quality of the league Ndukwe plays in, he will earn more points towards a work permit. It is understood that with the right steps, the required points can be achieved by January. This means that if Ndukwe is recalled, he could still play for Liverpool after January this season, but this could be a potential deterrent for clubs who are interested in a loan move.

What will happen next

Ndukwe may get more opportunities to prove his talent, but he will have to meet work permit requirements to attend competitive matches. Liverpool's management team will have to come up with a strategy to resolve this issue so that Ndukwe can get a chance to play in major league football. Meanwhile, he will try to strengthen his position in friendly matches.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ifeanyi Ndukwe Liverp

What did you perform for school?

Ifeanyi Ndukwe has already played 90 minutes twice and 80 minutes once, and he started alongside captain Virgil van Dijk against Monaco.

Why can't Ifeanyi Ndukwe play in the Premier League?

Ifeanyi Ndukwe will miss Liverpool's first Premier League match against Newcastle after Brexit rules prevented him from scoring the required points to play in competitive matches.

Who confirmed Ifeyan Ndukwe's ability?

This was confirmed by Liverpool's new coach Andoni Eriola, who has given Ndukwe the opportunity to play more.

Which players are injured in Liverpool's team?

Joe Gomez, Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni are injured in Liverpool's squad, giving Ndukwe more playing time.

How has Liverpool's pre-season been?

Liverpool's pre-season has not been without some challenges, including two wins and two defeats from four friendly matches.

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