Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott has opened up on his "very tough" loan spell at Aston Villa and said he is still unsure about his long-term future at Anfield.
Elliott moved to Villa on loan last term expecting that it would mark the end of his time at Liverpool, whom he had joined from Fulham in 2019.
However, he made just nine appearances for Unai Emery's side, totalling 277 minutes across the course of the campaign due to a clause in his loan agreement which would have obligated Villa to sign him for £35 million ($47m) had he made a tenth appearance.
The 23-year-old has now returned to Liverpool for preseason, where he has an opportunity to impress new head coach Andoni Iraola, featuring in back-to-back wins over Sunderland and Wrexham in the United States.
"It's an incredible feeling," Elliott said after the Reds' 1-0 victory over Wrexham on Wednesday night.
"Especially, everyone knows, how much I love the club, and I've supported them from a very young age, so the feeling never goes, of putting a shirt back on, and representing the club, and doing your childhood dream, and, as I said, every time I put the strip on, I want to give it 100%."
Harvey Elliot played at Aston Villa last season. Dustin Satloff/Getty Images Asked whether he thought he had played his last game for Liverpool when he signed for Villa, Elliott said: "Truthfully, yes. Because I wanted a new challenge.
"I wanted to kind of go and explore something, come out of my comfort zone, that I thought personally that would take me on as a player again.
"Unfortunately, it didn't work out, but the way I see it is, that's last season now I'm here. It's kind of a second chance, if you want to call it.
"Especially with the gaffer and new coaching staff coming in. It's another chance to impress, and hopefully get in their [good] books. But whatever happened last season, I wish Villa nothing but the very best, had a lot of love for them, and they treated me very, very well.
"Unfortunately, the situation happened, but it's another learning curve. It's a situation that I can take on in my career, and just keep looking forward.
"I'm here now, and I'm trying to cement my spot in the team or within the squad.
"Mentally, it was a very tough one. As I said, it was a learning curve. It was an opportunity for me to experience something new. As much as I didn't want to do it, and I don't wish it upon any other player, because it's not nice at all, but I have no hard feelings.