Trent Kone-Doherty is excelling in Norway after leaving Liverpool earlier this calendar year, where he has scored two hat-tricks in recent weeks and is in flying form
Former Liverpool winger Trent Kone-Doherty in action for the Republic of Ireland
Former Liverpool winger Trent Kone-Doherty in action for the Republic of Ireland(Image: Stuart Leggett/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Leaving Liverpool earlier this calendar year to make a surprise switch to Norway, young winger Trent Kone-Doherty is enjoying his time with Molde so far.
The 20-year-old forward, who was signed by Liverpool from Derry City, has now scored nine goals in his last six games in all competitions, including two hat-tricks, the latest of which came against HamKam in the Eliteserien this weekend. He is in flying form as the final stretch of the season in Scandinavia arrives.
Third in the Norwegian top flight, 11 points behind Bodo-Glimt and Viking, and in European contention, Molde is having a good campaign, with Kone-Doherty finding form in the final weeks of the season, where he is impressing.
With Kone-Doherty’s contract set to expire this summer, Liverpool accepted an offer of around €750K ($886K/£657K) from Molde back in February, when the transfer window was still open in Norway.
The Reds also secured a buy-back clause and a healthy sell-on fee for any future transfer, which may well come into play given how well he is performing.
Liverpool didn't want to lose the player, but Kone-Doherty wanted a route to senior action, and that decision has paid off.
Trent Kone-Doherty warms up before a UEFA Youth League game between Liverpool and Real Madrid
Trent Kone-Doherty warms up before a UEFA Youth League game between Liverpool and Real Madrid(Image: Lewis Storey/Getty Images)
"We've lost a good player," U21s manager Rob Page told Liverpool.com shortly after Kone-Doherty departed. "But in this job, you’re in it to develop players. He's decided to move on. We wanted to keep him.
"There was an offer of a contract, so it's disappointing to see him go, but that's life. That's development football; it gives others an opportunity now to step into his place and we can focus on them."
Molde sporting director Ole Jakob Strandhagen publicly thanked Liverpool after the transfer was completed.
"Trent is a technically good and fast winger who has shown his skills and not least potential in the final third during his time at Liverpool," he said.
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"At the same time, he has intensity and pressure in the game that benefits the team both with and without the ball. He is well educated at Liverpool, and we are very happy that he has chosen Molde as the next step in his development.
"The process has been good and we thank Liverpool for a good negotiating climate, despite the fact that they also had a strong desire to keep Trent."
With the likes of Rio Ngumoha and Josh Abe ahead of Kone Doherty in the race for a senior place, it was the right thing for the player to move on in search of senior game time.
So far, he seems to be proving his exit to have been the correct decision, excelling in Norway at the age of 20.