Danny Wilson: The Inside Line

Since the summer, no fewer than five deals have taken place between Liverpool and Blackpool – three permanent and two loans.

The fifth one was confirmed just this weekend; Liverpool’s Danny Wilson joining the Seasiders on loan until the end of the season.

The young Scottish defender’s arrival on the Fylde Coast has been met with real enthusiasm by Blackpool fans, but how much do we actually know about the highly rated Wilson bar what we’ve read in dispatches?

As always, we turned to our Liverpool fan in the know – Andy Hayes – to get his views on yet another deal between the two ‘Pools:

‘Danny looks a good player but hasn’t really had many chances for the first team yet, particularly at centre half [his natural position].

‘Most his appearances for us have been at left back and he doesn’t look comfortable there at all, so hopefully Ollie is not planning on playing him there.

‘He’s very much a footballing centre half, like Daniel Agger. He likes to get the ball down and pass it rather than putting his foot through it.

‘He’s made just one Premier League start under Kenny Dalglish, in a three man defence away at West Ham last February. He did well until injuries dictated he went to full back, although he struggled physically up against Demba Ba (although – as we’ve seen – that’s nothing to be ashasmed of!)

‘If he is going to be in the middle of a four man defence he’d be ideal alongside the likes of Ian Evatt, who is very much a defender’s defender and likes a block and a clearance.

‘He is very quick and can turn well, which sometimes makes up for a lack in concentration and it will be interesting to see how he progresses if given a regular run of games.

‘I said last summer a run in the Championship would be far more beneficial to him than a return to Scotland (where he won Young Player of the Year previously). There are high hopes for him at Anfield.

‘Blackpool don’t keep too many clean sheets, so hopefully someone of Wilson’s class can improve this and, very much like the Jonjo Shelvey deal, ideally will benefit all concerned.’