What Does the Future Hold for Andre Wisdom After Norwich City Loan?

Liverpool defender Andre Wisdom's season-long loan move to Norwich City was confirmed on Wednesday, with the 22-year-old heading to a third home in three consecutive seasons.

The Yorkshire-born player spent last season with West Bromwich Albion, making 26 appearances for the Baggies, and was a pivotal part of Derby County's side in the Championship the season before.

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At both County and West Brom, Wisdom was used as a right-back, despite his natural position being at centre-back.

"Andre fits our profile in terms of getting hungry players in who want to make their way in the game," said Norwich boss Alex Neil, per BBC Sport, upon his signing.

"It will add to the competition for places as he's a flexible player."

The question is, will that flexibility prove a hindrance or a positive for Wisdom long term?

Liverpool

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Wisdom signed a new contract at Liverpool earlier this summer, which expires in 2019, according to the Daily Mail.

After signing that deal, many fans assumed such a move meant Wisdom would remain at the club for the forthcoming campaign and provide competition for Nathaniel Clyne at right-back or even add numbers in the centre.

Having started the Reds' first pre-season match against Thai True All Stars, however, Wisdom has not been given a further opportunity. Indeed, new signing Joe Gomez appears to have moved ahead of him in the pecking order.

With Kolo Toure having signed a new deal at the club in the same week Wisdom penned his, it means that Rodgers is very well stocked for centre-backs—Martin Skrtel, Mamadou Sakho, Dejan Lovren and Toure, plus youngsters Tiago Ilori and Gomez.

Rodgers was clearly keen to retain Toure's experience, but surely Wisdom, if given the opportunity, would be a capable fourth-choice centre-back option.

Alas, Rodgers has instead opted to allow him to leave the club for a third season in a row.

Position

Wisdom's youth career saw him playing as a centre-back, and it's there where he has represented England.

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He has featured in that natural role for Liverpool in pre-season both last summer and the summer before but never played a competitive game there. His appearances in the first season of Rodgers' at the club were made at right-back.

Wisdom's physical stature make him certainly appear that he would be more at home in the centre, also offering pace, an increasingly important attribute for a centre-back.

Could he, eventually, follow a similar pathway to that of Jamie Carragher—who occupied both full-back roles at Anfield before being moved into his natural central role under Rafa Benitez?

It will certainly be interesting to see where he lines up for his new club, Norwich, this season. Most Liverpool supporters will be hoping Neil offers Wisdom the opportunity to show what he is capable of in the centre.

Neil, though, has hinted at a right-sided role, saying: "In the past he's played centre-back and right-back. Having added competition to the left-hand side with Robbie Brady, it was important to add something to the right side as well."

Another season on the right, at an age when Wisdom will be learning his trade in the top flight, could leave him struggling to ever make the change back to the centre.

Future

Twelve months from now is difficult to predict for Wisdom's career. It could go one of many ways.

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He could occupy Norwich's right-back role capably all season and thus either return to Liverpool to provide cover for Clyne or see another Premier League club purchase him permanently as their first-choice right-back.

Alternatively, he could be offered that opportunity at the centre with Norwich, which, of course, could go either way. He certainly appears to have the attributes required to be a solid Premier League centre-back, but only with playing time there will we know.

WhoScored.com details Wisdom's strengths as passing and concentration—two very required attributes for the centre-back role—and notes his crossing as being a weakness, making him less suited to a full-back role. It also states that he "does not like to dive into tackles"—another positive.

Next summer Wisdom will be 23 years old and at a crossroads in his career. This season is a vital one, and he must take the opportunity that presents itself—whether on the right or in the centre.