Liverpool left-back Calum Scanlon has celebrated promotion with loan club Cardiff City, two-and-a-half months after joining the League One side.
Scanlon made a surprise move to Cardiff at the end of the winter transfer window, having just proved his fitness after 11 months out with a hamstring injury.
He has been a useful squad player for Brian Barry-Murphy’s side since, but with the Bluebirds fighting for promotion he has unsurprisingly been limited to two starts in his eight appearances to date.
But he was at the heart of the celebrations as Cardiff secured their place back in the Championship with a 3-1 win over Reading last weekend.
With Lincoln already confirmed as champions, Cardiff guaranteed a runner-up finish as the likes of Bolton, Bradford, Stockport and Stevenage vie for the playoff spots.
Cardiff players and staff, including on-loan Liverpool left-back Calum Scanlon, celebrate promotion in front of their supporters (Nigel French/PA)
And with little left to play for, Barry-Murphy handed Scanlon his second start since joining in a 1-0 victory at home to Port Vale on Wednesday night.
The 21-year-old played 83 minutes at left-back, which marked the longest competitive appearance of his young career so far.
Scanlon can look to build on that with two more games left to play as Cardiff host Northampton on Saturday before closing the season away to Mansfield on May 2.
Beyond that, there could be an opportunity to impress in pre-season ahead of a crucial summer, as Liverpool see long-term first-choice left-back Andy Robertson leave.
Who will replace Andy Robertson at Liverpool?
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, April 11, 2026: Liverpool's Andy Robertson touches the badge in front of the supporters after the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Fulham FC at Anfield. The game ended 2-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Robertson has already been replaced in the starting lineup by Milos Kerkez but there is still uncertainty over the club’s plans for the Hungarian’s deputy.
The role could be filled by the returning Kostas Tsimikas and Arne Slot has hinted at the possibility, but it remains to be seen whether the Greek would be happy to take up second-choice duties again.
If not, Liverpool could look internally at either Scanlon or Luke Chambers, with the 21-year-olds both gaining experience out on loan in the second half of the season after recovering from long-term injuries.
Any momentum gained in these final weeks of the campaign can only benefit Scanlon, who will rejoin his parent club this summer boosted by promotion success at Cardiff.
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