• Home
  • Football
  • Ben Woodburn Says Spell With Seasiders Will Give Him Much Needed Game Time

Ben Woodburn Says Spell With Seasiders Will Give Him Much-Needed Game Time

Ben Woodburn is relishing the chance to link-up with his old Liverpool U23 boss Neil Critchley after joining Blackpool on a temporary loan. The 10-times capped Wales international is hoping the move to the League One outfit – now managed by Critchley – will give him the game time he badly needs.

Ben Woodburn is relishing the chance to link-up with his old Liverpool U23 boss Neil Critchley after joining Blackpool on a temporary loan.

The 10-times capped Wales international is hoping the move to the League One outfit – now managed by Critchley – will give him the game time he badly needs.

“I’m really looking forward to being here and playing football again,” said the 21-year-old.

https://twitter.com/WelshFanZoneTV/status/1317113771618373633

“Neil Critchley was a big factor in me playing for Liverpool and I feel as though he knows me as a player and I know him as a coach.

“Hopefully we can have a good connection and be successful on the pitch again.”

Woodburn, whose only two games this season came for Liverpool U21s, has joined until January 17.

Chester-born Woodburn became Liverpool’s youngest ever scorer, beating the record set by Michael Owen, when he netted against Leeds United in November 2016.

He became Wales’ second-youngest scorer behind Gareth Bale after coming off the bench to score that stunning 25-yard strike in a 1-0 win over Austria in September 2017.

Ben Woodburn will link-up again with ex-Liverpool U23 coach Neil Critchley at Blackpool.

But he has made just 11 first-time appearances for the Anfield club having spent time on loan at Sheffield United and Oxford Utd in recent seasons.

Critchley said: “Ben is a young player with lots of ability and can play in a number of different attacking positions.

“In coming through the Academy at Liverpool, he has gone on to play for the first team and gained full international caps for Wales.

“I know the quality he can bring to the team, having worked with him previously. I am delighted to welcome him to Blackpool and to be working with him once again.”

 

Related News

Swansea City striker Zan Vipotnik celebrates. Pic: Alamy

Hey, Swansea City . . . What’s the Plan for Zan?

Zan is the man for Swansea City right now, but is that for the short or long term, considers Ian Mitchelmore.

Ian Mitchelmore | 2 hours ago
Newport County players. Pic. Alamy

Newport County Can Still Roll the Dice . . . But They Need Ladders, Not Snakes

With just 10 regular season games left to play in 2025-26, Newport County's season is fast approaching crunch time, as Ian Mitchelmore reports.

Ian Mitchelmore | 7 hours ago
Wrexham's Kieffer Moore. Pic. Alamy

Kieffer Moore Blow Casts Shadow Over Wales and Wrexham Hopes

Kieffer Moore’s injury has cast a cloud of anxiety that has settled over both Wrexham and Wales as both bid for a step towards glory.

David Williams | Mar 11, 2026
Head Coach Vitor Matos. Pic. Alamy

Swansea City Boss Ignores Play-Off Chat . . . But Wrexham Clash Will Turn up the Volume

Vitor Matos insists talk of a Championship play-off push by Swansea City is not on his mind ahead of Friday’s big Welsh derby against Wrexham.

David Williams | Mar 11, 2026
Brian Barry-Murphy Head Coach of Cardiff City. Pic. Alamy

It’s not Meant to be Easy, Insists Brian Barry-Murphy as Cardiff City Held

Cardiff City manager Brian Barry-Murphy insists the grind of a League One promotion race was never supposed to be easy after his side slipped up again.

David Parsons | Mar 11, 2026
Ashley Phillips, Stoke City. Pic. Alamy

Wales Hope Swansea Way Will Prove a Wales Route for Ashley Phillips

Craig Bellamy is hoping Ashley Phillips’ strong Swansea links convince the Tottenham Hotspur defender to switch back to Wales from England.

Paul Jones | Mar 10, 2026