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Lovemore Dube, [email protected]

DOES Trey Nyoni and teammate Isaac Mabaya have what it takes to retain their places in the Liverpool squad? Liverpool have so far released 10 players among them Joel Matip and Thiago Alcantara.

The two great club servants of the last seasons bid farewell to the team and fans in the team’s last match against wolves. It was also Jurgen Klopp’s final game with the club that he led to the English League, Champions League and World Club title in a decade of immense achievements for an institution whose fans had endured a 30-year title drought.

Liverpool have released academy starlets Adam Lewis and Melkamu Frauendorf. The duo were expected to be part of the Liverpool team for the future having been handed first team debuts by Klopp.

Isaac Mabaya

The chop affected Mateusz Musialowski, who played against Sparta Prague this past season, Nathan Giblin, Francis Gyimah, Luke Hewitson, Niall Osborne and Cody Pennington are in the list that has left Liverpool.

However, Nyoni and Mabaya seem to have been thrown a lifeline to continue with their progression. Both have appeared in England colours in age group teams and may be future stars if their career development is monitored and patiently nurtured.

Nyoni who was born on June 30, 2007 in England to Zimbabwean parents, is eligible to play for England and Zimbabwe by virtue of his parents being from the Southern African country.

“Everyone at Liverpool FC thanks Joel, Thiago, Adam, Melkamu, Mateusz, Nathan, Francis, Luke, Niall and Cody for all their contributions and wishes them each the very best for the future,” Liverpool were quoted as saying in a statement two weeks ago.

Nyoni is an attacking midfielder who joined Liverpool FC from Leicester City in September last year but has struggled to get into the first team of a side with a formidable midfield.

To his credit, at just 16, age is still on his side and may be kept for further development and growth in physical stature as he really looks his age, a fresh and innocent faced teenager. On his debut for the Liverpool Under-18s, Nyoni scored in a Meyrside derby against Everton.
He joined Liverpool after almost a decade at the Leicester Academy.

Nyoni has played for England at Under-18 level and was on target when the Three Lions (England) beat Italy 3-2 in 2022. In that match he also provided an assist, a huge statement about his potential.

Nyoni played in the Montaigu Tournament, prestigious event in which Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe, Thiery Henry, Andre Pirlo, Karim Benzema and Carlos Tévez participated in.

He got his first English Premiership feel after being introduced in the 77th minute of the FA Cup encounter against Southampton where he replaced Harvey Elliott.

Nyoni made history for himself when he, at 16 years, became Liverpool’s youngest player to appear in the FA Cup. He is said to be the third-youngest player in the team’s history.

Nyoni is said to possess technical finesse, close ball control and composed demeanour even under strong challenge. Mabaya (19) born at Preston, Lancashire in England plays as a defender and is earmarked for a career at right-back where he has been used from an early age at the Liverpool academy.

He started off as a midfielder at the academy. Mabaya has shown so much potential to be capped by England at Under-15, 16, 18 and 19 level.
He signed a professional contract with the club in 2021 and in January of the following year he made his Liverpool first-team match day squad as an unused substitute in the FA Cup against Shrewsbury Town.

Mabaya had a good 2021-22 season, playing as a right-back for the Liverpool Under-18 side. This earned him a trip with Liverpool to the Far East with the Liverpool first team in July of 2022.  His 2022-23 season was injury plagued.

Last year in November Mabaya was called up to the Zimbabwe national team by Baltemar Brito but did not turn up. Their rise with Liverpool may open up avenues for either England or Zimbabwe senior national teams. But the big question is: will they survive the chop under new coach Arne Slot?