A Liverpool Academy star has the vision to match first team legends Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, says a top coach.
There’s always the next big thing being praised across various media networks, and a club like Liverpool are going to have more than most.
We’ve already seen players like Neco Williams and Curtis Jones impress when giving the chance, but there could be another cab off the rank pretty shortly.
That’s if the rumours are to be believed and Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah are pleased with the vision of this U18 star.
Forwards like that are going to need to be fed ammunition as they cut across the field from outside to in, and Pep Lijnders thinks he’s found someone who is able to do that.
The Echo reported that Leighton Clarkson has been ticking all the boxes recently, and that the starlet has what it takes to go far in the game.
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"“He has the capacity to play the passes these type of forwards like to receive,” said the coach.“He is the type of number six we really like, one who can dictate but dictate with direction, who can speed up the tempo of the positional play, the one who has always time on the ball.”"
He’s already made two appearances for the first team, one against Aston Villa and the other against Shrewsbury. It’s not just Lijnders who thinks highly of the lad, U18 boss Barry Lewtas is a fan too.
"“He has U23 exposure and a little bit of that with the seniors at Melwood, too. I have seen him grow as a player and as also a person, taking on responsibility and that is great to see.”"
While we’ve busied ourselves thinking of a world in which Williams backs up Trent Alexander-Arnold next season and Jones comes off the bench to score worldies, there are always another crop of players working away beneith the surface.
They have to be better than ever before and push themselves more than they ever have if they want to break through to the Liverpool first team.
Oh, and they also have to be uniquely good.
Which is why it’s so encouraging to see coaches like Lijnders and Lewtas come out and speak highly about some of their youngsters. You know they aren’t just blowing smoke, and Leighton Clarkson is another name we should all look out for.