Sebastian Coates has suggested that he may be forced to leave Liverpool in the summer as he needs to play regular first team football in order to remain in the Uruguay squad.

The 22-year-old has started just one Premier League game this season and has not featured in the first team since the 3-2 loss to League One side Oldham in the FA Cup nearly two months ago.

Sebastian Coates
Sebastian Coates has not played for Liverpool since Matt Smith helped Oldham beat the Reds in the FA Cup. [Reuters]

Coates is currently back in South America, as Uruguay prepare to play Paraguay in a World Cup qualifier, and the central defender admitted that he is concerned about his future as he does not seem part of Brendan Rodgers plans.

"I want to play, and most of all to be involved in the Uruguayan team like every other player," Coates told El Observador.

"With that in mind I need to play, whether in Liverpool or somewhere else. I have a contract until 2016, but don't know what will happen in the future. I will wait until the end of the season and then speak to the club."

Liverpool have struggled defensively all season and yet Coates has been overlooked for a place in the first team. Even when Martin Skrtel was dropped from the side, it was Jamie Carragher that was once again brought back into the side.

With Carragher retiring at the end of the season there have been suggestions that Rodgers will look to buy a number of defenders in the summer that will add yet more competition for Coates.

The Uruguay international suggests that he simply wants to play and it seems as though Liverpool denied him the chance to go out on loan earlier in the season.

"I asked (in January) if there was any chance of going on loan to another club but (Rodgers) said I could not," added Coates. "I almost always travel with the team and only find out on the day of when I've been left out, but I try to stay positive, train well, and wait for my opportunity."

The 6ft 6" defender was signed after helping Uruguay win the Cop America in 2011 but has struggled to make an impact in the first team and has started just 14 games for the club in the last two seasons.