Liverpool defender Calvin Ramsay has suffered a terrible run of luck with injuries over the last two years.
Currently on loan at Wigan Athletic, the 20-year-old made the £4.5million move to Merseyside from Aberdeen in July 2022 but has since been plagued by injury, managing just two first team games at Anfield and making a handful of appearances during loan spells at Preston and Bolton.
Ramsay has been named in Scotland's Under-21 squad for their upcoming Euro 2025 qualifiers. He has one senior cap, having made his international debut in November 2022 in a friendly against Turkey.
Under-21s head coach Scot Gemmill says expects to see “a young player who's more mature and stronger mentally, stronger physically.”
“He must have been so frustrated to have those injuries,” Gemmill said. “I think it's just about opportunity and there's no question I'm looking forward to working with him again.”
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The youngster is highly regarded by Steve Clarke and Shaun Maloney, his club manager at Wigan.
Gemmill added: “He needs to show that resilience and that mentality that he showed earlier in his career. He needs to show it again to get back to and beyond the level, right to the top where he obviously wants to be. If we can play a small part in helping him, then we're delighted to do that.”
The right-back, who won SFWA Young Player of the Year during his season with Aberdeen’s first team in 2021/22, has made two appearances for new club Wigan so far.
On players facing setbacks early in their careers, the young Scots manager said: “You see their potential on the pitch and they have to confirm their talent on the pitch, but they also have to live their life correctly.
“There is no room for non-professionalism and not being absolutely 100% dedicated to how they live their life. Socially, nutrition, strength and obviously trying to keep on improving technically as well and tactically. There's just no room for any gap now.
“I think that clubs are recruiting players from all over the world for millions of pounds; if they want to play at the top level, they have to be the complete package. Off the pitch… that character, that personality is undoubtedly a big part of what it takes to be a top player.”
