Conor Coady is training with Liverpool's under-21 squad as he searches for a new club following his exit from Wrexham earlier this month.
The 33-year-old centre-back, who came through Liverpool's academy system before embarking on a long career elsewhere, left the Championship club after both parties agreed to terminate his contract on the eve of the summer transfer deadline. Coady is now a free agent and says he is using his time at his boyhood club to stay fit and involved in the game while he weighs up his options.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live Sport, the former England international explained how the arrangement came about and what it means to him. "I'm trying to keep myself busy. I'm lucky enough to get the opportunity to go into Liverpool's under-21s," he said. "I came through there. I'm doing a little bit of coaching with the boys, which has been brilliant."
Coady credited the current under-21 setup, led by Jay Spearing and Rob Page, for welcoming him back into the fold. "The lads at Liverpool are amazing with me. The players but also Jay Spearing and Rob Page who gave me the opportunity to come in, mirror them a little bit, be in the office before training and look at how they plan a session," he explained. He added that he is prepared to join training sessions as a player if numbers are needed, saying, "If they need numbers, I'll jump in and keep myself fit as well."
Despite the temporary role at Liverpool, Coady stressed that finding his next permanent club remains a priority, though he is not desperate to rush into a decision. "That's what it's looking like at the minute. I'm obviously speaking to my agent about different bits that are going on," he said. "I'm not massively in a rush because I want to make sure it's right."
Coady's spell at Wrexham never took off after he arrived from Leicester City last summer. He featured just six times for Phil Parkinson's side before being sent on loan to Charlton Athletic midway through last season, where he made 12 appearances. He returned to the Racecourse Ground for pre-season this year but was left out of every matchday squad across Wrexham's opening four fixtures, prompting the decision to part ways.
Even so, Coady thanked Wrexham for facilitating his exit and helping him move forward. "I appreciate Wrexham helping me in the last couple of days and coming to a decision I think is right for everybody," he said.
The defender was candid about his frustration at not being able to make the kind of impact he hoped for during his time in north Wales. "I want to make a difference, whether that's on or off the pitch. I want to be a real driving force," he said. "I struggled to get that at Wrexham for one reason or another and didn't get the opportunity to do so. I'm craving that if I'm being honest. I'm not someone who can just sit on my hands and just enjoy going into training, come home and everything's good and you pick up your wages. I'm not that sort of person."
Reflecting on the timing of his departure, Coady said escaping his contract has given him space to reassess his career path. "It was big that I got out of the contract so I could just take a step back, breathe a little bit and go 'what's right next for me?'," he said. "It definitely needs to be the right opportunity and the right club because I feel like I've chased a little bit over the last couple of years and I don't want to carry on doing that."
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.