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Liverpool youngster Rhian Brewster admits he almost quit football during his injury lay-off.

The Reds striker damaged his ankle ligaments in January 2018 and is only now closing in on a return to full fitness, having missed over a year of football.

What's the word?

Brewster burst onto the scene with the triumphant England Under-17 team at the World Cup in 2017, winning the Golden Boot after scoring eight goals.

However, an injury sustained last January has kept him away from the pitch ever since, though he was given a new contract by the Reds in July.

Brewster has been taken to warm-weather training in Marbella with the senior squad as he works his way back to full fitness, with one eye sure to be on making his full senior debut for the club.

But he has now admitted that he almost called time on his career during the most gruelling stages of his rehabilitation.

Speaking to Liverpool's official website, he said: "I think it’s taught me I am a strong person to have been through what I have been through in the last 13 months. It’s been a bumpy ride, but for me to come out of the other end, I think has helped me a lot.

"There were so many points during the rehab where I thought I wanted to scrap football or I was feeling annoyed at the situation I was in, but to get through it and reach the other end, it’s shown me I am a strong person and that I know what I want to do."

Great attitude

Brewster has been through the mill somewhat.

After his phenomenal goalscoring exploits at the World Cup, many Liverpool fans expected the striker to kick on and make an impact on the first-team, but injury robbed him of the chance.

Instead, he has had the ability to put things into perspective and set himself realistic targets.

Brewster is an explosive striker and he has a brilliant record at youth level - he has scored eight goals and laid on eight assists in for the Under-23s and has five goals and four assists to his name for the Under-18s.

He is clearly destined to make it in the first-team but he will not be taking the opportunity for granted, particularly given the injury hell he has had to endure.