Former Northern Ireland defender Gareth McAuley has applauded Liverpool youngster Conor Bradley’s loan move to Bolton Wanderers and says it will ‘be the making of him’.
Bradley completed a move to the League One side last week, as he continues to develop in his ever-promising career.
The young talent had an outstanding year for Liverpool U-23 and was nominated for Premier League 2 player of the season.
His undoubtable talent earned him his first cap for Northern Ireland in May 2021, and he has since made 8 appearances for the national team.
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Bradley made his debut for Liverpool last season and made 6 appearances for the Reds across the course of the campaign, including appearances in the FA Cup and the Champions League.
But following the recent transfer of Calvin Ramsey to Liverpool, his playing time was set to be limited, and a loan move to Bolton comes at a sensible time in his career, as he looks to make an impression and find a potential route into the Liverpool first-team.
Former Northern Ireland defender Gareth McAuley, who made 80 caps for the national team, was full of praise for Bradley and his move to Bolton.
Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, McAuley had this to say: “A season at Bolton Wanderers could be the making of Conor Bradley,”
“It's a terrific move for the young Northern Ireland full-back. He'll get regular first-team football at a decent level, and with a team who should be battling for promotion."
"He'll endure real-life experiences in League One having been wrapped up in cotton wool at Anfield.”
“He has a terrific attitude, a will to win and, as Northern Ireland fans know only too well, he's not afraid of a strong, crunching tackle.”
McAuley also spoke on the impact a competitive league could have on Bradley’s development.
He said: “Conor will now have Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday games rather than a match once a week, as he did at Liverpool, while he will be in a dressing room with big characters and players who rely heavily on win bonuses.”
“As well as improving Conor as a player in a tough and uncompromising League, it will allow him to grow as a person off the pitch.”
Will Beaman