Liverpool Europa League news: Brendan Rodgers says academy defender Daniel Cleary may leave on loan

Brendan Rodgers has discussed Liverpool academy star Daniel Cleary, saying the 19-year-old may leave the club on loan to continue his development. Cleary is in Rodgers' squad for the Europa League match with FC Sion, but the Anfield boss has said he will be happy to let him leave on loan if no first team chances become available.

Rodgers previously named the Irish youngster in his pre-season squad for the tour around Bangkok, Brisbane, Adelaide and Malaysia, giving him a shot at first team football in a friendly against a Malaysia XI. The defender has been playing in the under-21 team so far this season, but made the bench for the Europa League opener at Bordeaux alongside fellow academy starlets Connor Randall and Cameron Brannagan.

The Liverpool manager may hand Cleary a competitive debut against Sion, having announced plans to rotate his squad and keep key players fresh ahead of the Merseyside derby with Everton on Sunday 4 October.

Asked about Cleary's development and his chances of breaking into the first team, Rodgers said: "Daniel will be in and around the squad.

"Of course, we will play young players but I also respect that there are other players that will need games as well – and it's a competition we want to get avictory in. Daniel is a very good player. He's going to have a good career in the game. He is very committed and I've seen development."

Rodgers admits that the youngster has made an impressive progress in recent years, but with the likes of Dejan Lovren, Martin Skrtel, Mamadou Sakho, Joe Gomez and Emre Can in the first team he may need to move on loan to gain first-team action.

"In my time here, I've seen him improve, so I'm sure if he doesn't get the game time at this moment, there'll probably be a loan period for him. In the meantime, he's playing in the U21s and playing very well."