Nuri Sahin feeling back 'home' after failed loan spell at Liverpool

Loan spell at Anfield did not work out

Liverpool midfielder Nuri Sahin (GETTY IMAGES)

Few would see having a loan spell at Liverpool cancelled as a career boost, but Nuri Sahin has always trodden his own path. Sahin had signed a six-year contract with Real Madrid in the summer of 2011 but Jose Mourinho let him go out on loan after he failed to break into the first team and he arrived at Anfield on a season-long deal in August 2012 as one of Brendan Rodgers' first acquisitions.

Upon his arrival he professed admiration for such a "big club" and said he had been impressed by the manager. However, just 12 appearances and three goals later, Sahin was gone. He was reported to have fallen out with Rodgers when the German-born Turkey international complained he was being played out of position.

The January transfer window provided him with the opportunity to return on loan to Borussia Dortmund, where the deep-lying playmaker made his name, and where he has quickly slotted into his favoured role in front of the defence.

"It was a good experience," he said of England. "Of course, it didn't end the way I wanted, but Liverpool is a huge club and a very good organisation. I'm sure it'll be good for my future career."

Dortmund resume Champions League action against Shakhtar Donetsk tonight, having gained a 2-2 draw from the first leg in Ukraine. It is an intriguing tie, given Shakhtar's strong group displays against Juventus and Chelsea.

"We know that we can go far if we play to our best in every game," added Sahin, "but it's not easy. If you look at the other teams in the last 16, you see others with a lot of experience, and we don't have the biggest experience in Europe."

Team news: Hummels doubt

Borussia Dortmund have concerns over the fitness of defender Mats Hummels, who was forced to sit out the last two of the German side's games with flu. Mario Götze and Lukasz Piszczek, who were rested over the weekend, are likely to come back into the starting line-up.

Meanwhile, Shakhtar Donetsk can be expected to name virtually the same side that faced Dortmund three weeks ago.