Milan Jovanovic Linked with Move from Liverpool, But Is Roy Right To Sell?

Serbian winger Milan Jovanovic has again been linked with a transfer away from Liverpool during the upcoming window again this week, this time to German duo Koln and Hamburg. This speculation is not new—it is something that the left sided attacker has had to deal with almost from the moment he walked through the gates at Anfield.

Earlier on in the season, the reasons seemed compelling if not entirely accurate—a Rafa Benitez-approved signing who only put pen to paper after the World Cup was over, and Hodgson in line to become the new boss.

Since Hodgson had no opportunity to give the go ahead, the transfer went through and Jovanovic became, along with Jonjo Shelvey (whose move was also agreed under Benitez), the final parting gift from the outgoing manager.

Jovanovic started the season in good form for Liverpool. Though goals were not forthcoming in the early part of his Reds career, he showed plenty of endeavour and no sign of a World Cup hangover, which seemed to blight the early season showing of many others who competed in South Africa 2010.

His displays in European qualifiers and against Arsenal in the league quickly endeared him to many Liverpool followers, and his pace down the left flank seemed a welcome addition to the first team.

However, since the early part of the season when he was given a few starts as injuries to Kuyt and suspension to Joe Cole made room for another wide man, Jovanovic has found himself limited to a bit-part role in the team and has rarely featured in the Premiership, lending more credibility to these reports linking him with a swift move away from the club.

His two Liverpool goals to date have come in the defeat against Northampton in the Carling Cup and in a Europa League game against Steaua Bucharest—both competitions in which Hodgson has utilised his squad rather than playing first team members with regularity.

Jovanovic's substitute appearance ten minutes from time in the 3-1 reversal at Newcastle last weekend was his first taste of league football in two months—his previous appearance coming on the 17th October against Everton, where he made a six-minute substitute appearance with the team already trailing by two goals to nil.

Clearly, then, Hodgson has decided he doesn't figure in his current plans for the club, and sees no place in the first team for a man of his calibre.

Perhaps, with a semi-recent slight upturn in form, such a view could be excused, with Maxi Rodriguez offering more to the team than previously as well as better performances from Ryan Babel and David Ngog. Kuyt's return from injury and a switch to a 4:4:2 formation have also doubtless influenced Hodgson's choices in the starting lineup—after all, not everybody can start.

But is it really true that a player of Jovanovic's experience and with his attributes has no place in the team whatsoever?

I have already alluded, several times, to my belief that Hodgson is wayward in his substitute making decisions.

Jovanovic was on the bench in the defeats to Stoke and Tottenham, as well as in the draw with Wigan, yet was not deemed worthy of figuring when Liverpool were trying to get back into the game. This despite having at least one sub left to make when entering the final ten minutes of the game; indeed, against Spurs and Stoke Liverpool only made two subs during the entire 90 minutes.

Are we expected to believe that a player who was, according to reports, in demand with some of the highest-profile teams across Europe, a player who was deemed worthy of playing for Liverpool FC, is not capable of making an impact for the club to such an extent that the current manager would rather leave him sitting on the bench than bring him on in the hope of altering the course of the game in the favour of our club?

Of course, it is natural that a manager will want to bring in his own players and shape the club the way he believes it needs to be run.

And given that Jovanovic arrived on a bosman free transfer only five months ago, and (again, according to reports) could be sold now for upwards of £4 million, it is easy to see why he is an easy option to let go at such an early stage.

In all honesty I am completely perplexed by Hodgson's refusal to involve Jovanovic, he seems almost a stereotypical Hodgson-esque player—hard-working, pacy down the flanks on the counter and able to fill in a variety of positions.

Milan stated a couple of months ago, on the official Liverpool website no less, that he had no ambitions to leave Liverpool and was fully intent on staying and fighting for his place.

As the January window approaches and the transfer rumours ramp up to full capacity, Jovanovic will no doubt be mentioned more often the longer he goes without featuring heavily for the first team.

Should he be moved on, he will almost certainly be thanked by fans for his early endeavours and thunderous style of play.

I just hope he isn't sold without having his chance to show what he can do - Liverpool have been crying out for a genuine left winger for about ten years, it seems a shame now that the one we have is being routinely ignored.

You can follow me on Twitter: @karlmatchett