Emre Can smiles as he speaks to Liverpoolfc.com for the first time this pre-season and admits: "It's good to be back."

The German midfielder returned to Melwood later than most of his Anfield colleagues due to his participation at the U21 European Championship in the summer.

He comes back with a fresh hunger for the new campaign, though, after a three-week break and particularly the manner of his country's elimination from that tournament.

"I am glad to be back," says the popular No.23.

"It's good to be back in Liverpool, and especially Melwood, after three weeks' holiday, and it's good to be playing football again."

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Can and Germany had been steadily moving through the gears at the prestigious youth competition in Czech Republic in June.

But their ambitions were ruined in the semi-finals by a painful 5-0 thrashing against eventual runners-up Portugal.

Could that disappointment at least be harnessed as extra motivation at club level? The Reds man believes so: "I think it can do.

"We take no rival lightly, and we know we have to be 100 per cent engaged throughout every match. We all have to learn from each match we play and take away something positive.

"I think, for us as a team [Germany], we had more to give than we did. We did OK, and thought we could go all the way, but didn't make it to the final.

"The semi-final was a bad day for us all, and things didn't end quite the way we hoped they would."

For much of his debut season on Merseyside, Can was deployed in defence, calmly establishing his power and poise in the English game.

And the 21-year-old remains more than happy to put the team first when it comes to the position the manager selects him in.

"The most important thing is to feature in games for Liverpool - that's my number one intention," he adds.

"A midfield role is preferable, but of course it is the manager who decides who plays where. We'll see where he chooses to play me this season."