The World Cup is over, players that were on breaks are starting to return, and we are now a little over a month away from the first Premier League match of the season for Liverpool. This also means that preseason preparations now begin in earnest and some of the younger players like Trey Nyoni are working to make an impression on new head coach Andoni Iraola.
Iraola’s first match in charge will be next week in the United States when Liverpool face Sunderland in Nashville, and Nyoni is really looking forward to being included on the trip.
“It’s exciting times ahead. It’s been good to be back and to see everyone again and I’m ready to go,” the 19 year old told the club website.
“There are still a few players away [due to the World Cup] so obviously there’s an opportunity to play [in the USA] and just show what I can do in that sense. But I’ll just go out there and just enjoy it and just try to do my best.”
Nyoni has already had the opportunity to work under Iraola in these first days of preparations, enjoying some special time with the coach before the seniors return from their vacations World Cup time. He’s gotten to experience first hand what the new coach will expect out of the team in the season ahead, and is clearly excited about adapting to the way he’s expected to play.
“He’s very friendly, he’s very welcoming to everyone and I think he communicates quite well. Managers will always have their different styles, it’s just about us adapting to it. But it is exciting,” Nyoni explained.
“At the minute I’m just focused on performing as well as I can in training and games, and just trying to enjoy my football as well. I think that’s the most important thing because if you enjoy your football then you’ll perform better.”
The midfielder and Academy product had his first chance at senior minutes last year, making 14 appearances across all competitions, at only 17-18 years old. He just turned 19 and is working to get the same opportunities this upcoming season.
“I think just to keep pushing on,” the midfielder said of his ambitions for the season.
“I know sometimes on the outside it looks like it wasn’t as great and obviously as a football player you want to play more, but I think last season for me was a very good learning year.
“[It was] a good development year and an introduction into what it’s like to be in the first team. So, I think this season [the aim] is just keep progressing and just keep pushing, but obviously it all starts now with pre-season.
“That’s the most important thing at the minute and then the season will follow.”
Liverpool Men’s first preseason match is on Saturday, July 25th in Nashville, Tennessee against Sunderland, with kick off at 11PM BST.