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In January last year, Jordon Ibe returned to Liverpool FC after his highly successful loan spell at Derby where he contributed five goals in 20 appearances.

His first game back was with the Reds’ U21 team taking on Manchester United at Leigh Sports Village.

The Liverpool U21 coach Michael Beale told the ECHO that night that the then 19-year-old had returned a much improved player - probably the most talented player on the pitch that chilly evening.

“Ibe showed that there’s bags of ability there - I’m not sure there’s a player on the pitch with more ability than him. So it’s just about ‘can we get him in the right areas’, he’s obviously shown he’s grown in the time he’s been away,” was how Beale neatly summed it up.

Less than two weeks later and he was proved correct as Brendan Rodgers unexpectedly threw Ibe into the white-heat of a Goodison derby against Everton, the winger producing the game’s best moment of quality with a thunderous shot which rattled the post.

A star appeared to be born. He ended the season with nine starts and another five as a substitute.

Within a week of their season ending Liverpool had agreed a new five year deal with the player, keeping him at Anfield to 2020.

And when Raheem Sterling’s torrid and tawdry contract negotiations eventually saw him leave for the Etihad, many Liverpool fans found solace in what they believed was the presence already in their squad of an equal, if not better, talent to replace him.

And yet, what have we seen since then?

On Friday night it felt like Jordon Ibe’s recent Liverpool career had come full circle in just 14 months.

Now 20, the player found himself playing for Michael Beale’s U21s against Manchester United at Tranmere’s Prenton Park, his first appearance with the team of the season.

Admittedly he wasn’t alone with first team players Martin Skrtel and Steven Caulker also securing some game time to maintain fitness, while the likes of Brad Smith and Cameron Brannagan have all broken into Jurgen Klopp’s teams over the last few months.

But it was for Ibe that the situation represented somewhat of a fall from grace.

Twenty-four hours earlier and he had failed to make even the substitutes bench as Liverpool took on Manchester United on an historic European night at Anfield.

One player who was in that Anfield squad, 18-year-old Sheyi Ojo, operated on the other wing to Ibe on Friday night - and the contrast could not have been greater.

Ojo, fresh from a stunning hat-trick against Middlesbrough on Monday night, is a player brimming with confidence and was a constant thorn in United’s side.

Ibe was strangely anonymous for long periods, for all that he spent most of the first half against the Premier League quality of Antonio Valencia. He departed after 70-odd minutes with more questions raised than answers delivered.

Since Jurgen Klopp became Liverpool boss he has taken charge of 36 games and Ibe has started in just 12 of them, despite an injury crisis and fixture backlog, for all that Ibe himself had hamstring problems in January.

There have been moments of brightness in the season, most notably the crucial winner in the Capital One Cup semi-final first leg at Stoke which followed up a goal and an assist in their quarter final demolition of Southampton.

And who can forget the sheer joy of Klopp as he embraced ‘Ibeeey’ on Bonfire Night after his match-winning performance and goal against Rubin in the Kazan Arena.

Yet on other occasions he has appeared subdued and almost confused by his role within the team. Too often what he has tried has not come off and fans have been left underwhelmed and concerned about the progress of one of their great hopes.

He has not come close to the sort of strong season which could conceivably have seen him come into Roy Hodgson's England thinking for the Euros.

There is still plenty of time of course. This player is just 20 years old.

And the coach who gave him that glowing assessment 14 months ago remains certain the player’s quality will shine through.

Michael Beale told the ECHO: “We trust Jordon. he’s one of ours. He’s only 20 himself, Sheyi’s 18, you’ve got to ride the wave with them, they’re up and down. They’re wingers so they have one good moment and then...he just needs something to happen to spark him into life. Tonight you're just being very careful with him again. Jordon’s an honest lad, I’ve actually know him since he was a little boy being down in the south.

“There’s nothing wrong with Jordon, he’s there every day, Jurgen and the guys there are working with him and they trust him, they’ve played him a lot.

“I couldn’t argue with his effort and energy tonight, and what happens in the game happens.”

Anfield insiders say that Klopp’s message to Ibe has been clear. Play more direct, Use your pace and power. Generally leave the tricks to Coutinho and Firmino.

Liverpool fans will be hoping the Ibe they have seen such tantalising glimpses of returns to the pitch again soon.

It’s time for Jordon Ibe to break that unwelcome circle.