Ward eyes Liverpool's number one goalkeeper spot

Liverpool goalkeeper Danny Ward is eyeing a starting spot at the club when he returns to the Premier League in January, following a loan spell with Aberdeen.

Ward was sent out to the Scottish outfit in June and has played every league game so far this season after displacing 30-year-old Scott Brown, keeping nine clean sheets in 20 league games.

The 22-year-old is eager to force his way into Jurgen Klopp's plans upon his return and take advantage of the club's goalkeeping plight in recent times.

"It is definitely an ambition of mine to be Liverpool's first-choice. I have a self-belief where I think I can play at the highest level. Ideally that's at Liverpool, that would be fantastic," he told The Daily Mail.

"They gave me a new long-term contract before I came up. I took it to mean they think I have got a chance. Long term, I would love to be their number one.

"For now it's about me taking the right steps and impressing for Aberdeen game by game."

While Liverpool keep a close eye on their loanees, Ward admits he went back to visit the club - and Klopp - in the international break so that he would not be "left out of the picture".

"I am in regular contact with the Liverpool goalkeeping coach John Achterberg, we will speak a couple of times a week," he said.

"I met the new manager [Jurgen Klopp] after the last international break for an introduction and to see what he did in training, get a feeling for his way of working.

"It was brilliant to get my face in there. I was there for two days, two sessions, then back up at Aberdeen for that weekend.

"I don't want to be left out of the picture at Liverpool. I don't want to be out of sight, out of mind. So after the Holland friendly, I decided to call in."

While never making an international appearance for Wales, Ward has sat on the bench for numerous Euro 2016 qualifiers, and looks set to be part of the squad that travels to France.