Nearly five years after leaving Liverpool, Rhian Brewster appears to be on the path to realizing his potential.
The 24-year-old was one of the most promising talents in the Reds’ youth ranks when he moved to the Academy from Chelsea in 2015. Former manager Jurgen Klopp gave him his first call-up to the senior squad in 2016, but it wasn’t until a 2019 League Cup match against MK Dons that he made his competitive debut.
Despite impressive stats in the Academy, Brewster only made four senior appearances for Liverpool. He had a loan spell at Swansea City before being sold to Sheffield United in a deal potentially worth $30.4 million.
A severe ankle injury that sidelined him for over a year between 2018 and 2019 hindered his progress at Anfield and ultimately led to his exit.
In his debut season with the Blades, Brewster made 30 appearances across all competitions but failed to find the back of the net. The following campaign – with Sheffield United now in the EFL Championship – saw him enjoy a productive run in the team between November and January, netting three goals.
However, a hamstring injury in February put him out of action for the remainder of the season.
The 2022/23 season echoed a similar narrative for Brewster, with a hamstring injury sustained at the end of October proving to be season-ending. Last season, with the Blades back in the Premier League, recurring hamstring issues limited Brewster to just 13 appearances.
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Consequently, the striker’s value hit an all-time low at the close of 2023 – a position it has maintained since. Transfermarkt estimates Brewster’s current market value at around $3.2M, a stark contrast to the fee paid for him just over four years ago.
However, things may finally be looking up for the 24-year-old as he seeks to revive his once-promising career. This season under Chris Wilder, with the Blades chasing promotion, Brewster appears to have put his injury troubles behind him, clocking up 30 Championship appearances so far.
Despite a minor setback in November when he missed five games due to a thigh issue, he bounced back in December and has been fit ever since. Moreover, Brewster had a stellar March, contributing two goals and one assist in their last three matches.
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The forward found the net in their 3-1 victory over Coventry City on Friday, hammering home the third goal to keep the heat on promotion rivals Leeds United. He also scored the decisive goal in the game against arch-rivals Sheffield Wednesday prior to the international break in March.
Whether Brewster has truly put his injury troubles behind him is yet to be determined. However, with his club in the thick of a promotion chase, he’s undoubtedly playing a pivotal role in the final stages of the season.
In doing so, he’s rekindling memories of why he was held in such high regard when he first signed for Liverpool as a young talent nearly 10 years ago.
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can read the original story in the Liverpool ECHO by clicking here.
