Appearing to be one of Jürgen Klopp’s protégés following the German’s arrival, Divock Origi’s game time has taken a steady decline, only appearing in the league from the bench, and only starting in the league cup.
Totalling 98 minutes altogether in the Premier League so far in five appearances, the 21-year-old has somehow managed to wriggle his way into Roberto Martinez’s Belgium squad, where he was talking to the press ahead of their upcoming clash against Bosnia in their World Cup qualifying campaign.
The young forward was asked if, when not playing at club level, finding his way back into his national team’s squad was a good thing to get some time on the pitch.
He said, relayed by DH: “Yes, of course. I always want to play, and I hope to play here too. For me what’s most important is to continue to work hard. You get to play if you work hard in training, so I’m trying to progress a bit there, then we’ll see.”
Normally deployed as a centre-forward by Jürgen Klopp when called upon, Origi is also capable of playing out wide, where he has often played for his country.
For him, though, it’s very clear where his preference between the two lies.
He said: “I know where I want to play. I’ve always said it, I’m a striker, I’m a number nine who’s versatile. It’s one of my qualities, I can help out out wide, but there’s no doubt where I prefer to play.”
With the likes of Romelu Lukaku and an in-form Christian Benteke ahead of him in the pecking order, it might be wishful thinking that he could play up top for his country, at least against Bosnia.
Against Gibraltar, on the other hand…
