Liverpool have got a new right-winger. The player himself confirms it - he's excited to play there for the Reds.
Liverpool had something of a controversial summer, given the lack of certain signings. In midfield, for instance, there looked like a clear need for a more defensive player but the Reds didn't sign anyone.
In fact, they sold a midfielder in Curtis Jones and didn't replace him.
And that wasn't all. They also lost Mohamed Salah on a free transfer and didn't sign any direct replacement. It meant heading into this campaign without a natural right-winger and, quite incredibly, found wingers who naturally preferred the left side.
Not ideal squad-building, then, and Andoni Iraola has had to make do with the group and essentially try to convert someone to the right wing. That's easier said than done as all of them are right-footed - putting them on the other flank calls for a very different game.
But it does seem that Iraola has had some success.
Rio Ngumoha makes a difference
Rio Ngumoha has played fairly often on the right flank this season, despite having never really played there before. It’s the opposite of his natural game, after all.
Ngumoha likes to get the ball and drive inside, typically working a shot once he gets space on his right foot. He can’t do that from the right-hand side.
Instead, the teenager is forced to try and go on the outside more often than he’d like - but it seems that the position is growing on him. Ngumoha suddenly sees the value of playing on both flanks.
"I feel like I’ve got a lot better playing there from the Newcastle game until now,” he said, per the Athletic.
“I’m understanding it more. Going away with England helped a lot as well. I like playing on both sides. It gives me another tool in the toolbox.”
And that’s the big draw here. Ngumoha is still learning, after all, so perhaps adding this to his toolbox makes the most sense right now. He’s certainly taking to it very well.
It also means that Ngumoha has a clear place in the squad if he can nail down this position as there isn’t actually any competition for it. Not natural competition, anyway.