I NEED MATCHES, NOT MEDALS

Brewster has trophies galore from his time at Liverpool but he reveals he wanted much more than being a squad player

RHIAN BREWSTER is happy he swapped medals for matches when he made his record £ 23.5million move from Sheffield United to Liverpool.

Brewster was part of Liverpool’s victorious Champions League and European Super Cup squads last year and already has more gongs than many players manage in their careers.

Yet he turned his is back on the chance e of winning mo ree medals with the Reds for more game-etime with the Blades.

The 20- year - old d did not want to be a fringe player at Liverpool, playing in n the odd cup-tie, after scoring 11 goals in his 22 matches on loan at t Swansea last season.

He will finally play a Premier League game at An field tonight when he returns to o his former club and d is adamant he made the right choice.

“I could have stayed, I was under r contract, but at the age I am now in my career, I wanted game-time ,” said the striker, who made just four appearances for Liverpool .“This was a fantastic opportunity and when it came round, I felt it was too good to let it pass by.

“For me there is no substitute for playing week in, week out. Once you get a taste of playing regularly, you want to keep doing that.

“I had a positive experience at Swansea and I didn’t want to go back to being a squad player. I’ ve got some momentum and want to keep my career moving forward.

“And I feel for that to happen, I need to give myself the best possible chance of playing. I spoke to the boss at Liverpool and he agreed with me, so when this opportunity came along, I couldn’t turn it down.”

Brewster, who made his Blades debut as a substitute against Fulham last Sunday, says he learned much from Jurgen Klopp, his coaching staff and players like Jordan Henderson and James Milner. He claims they taught him hihhowhharddp la ye rslh have to work k to win trophies no matter how talented they are.

“Being with the group every day and seeing how winners conduct themselves, it’s only been a positive experience for me,” he said.

“I know just how much effort it takes tow in a league. I’ ve seen the benchmark, so that can only benefit me. Being on the bench, you feel the atmosphere of the occasion and, of course, what happened aft er winning t he Champions League final, to see firsthand how much that meant to the group and the effort it took to get there.

“It was a great experience to witness.”

Chris Wilder is confident Brewster will repay his fee and the former Chelsea academy player has consistently scored during his progression up the age groups.

He won the Golden Boot at the 2017 Under- 17 World Cup, scoring eight goals in England’ s triumph, and has represented the Three Lions from U- 16 to U- 21 level.

Despite his pedigree, Wild er claims Brewster will feel he has a point to prove when he returns to Anfield.

“I think everybody always has a point to prove,” said the Blades boss. “Does he want togo back to Liverpool and do well? 100 per cent he does, for himself as well as his club.

“There’s always going to be that spotlight put on him to do well as a young player and – with the fee we paid for him – to live up to those expectations.

“It’s a step up, but he knows that and understands the challenge.”