One of the most encouraging aspects of Andoni Iraola’s first summer at Liverpool has been his willingness to trust the club’s young players.
And that trust is continuing as Liverpool prepare for their Premier League opener against Newcastle on Sunday.
According to the latest training update, Lewis Koumas, James McConnell, Luke Chambers and Calvin Ramsay all trained with the first team ahead of the trip to St James’ Park.
For me, that’s significant.
These aren’t players simply being brought into training to make up the numbers.
Iraola appears genuinely interested in seeing what Liverpool’s youngsters can offer.
Iraola has already made his intentions clear
Earlier in pre-season, Iraola explained that some of Liverpool’s young players had impressed enough to remain around the senior squad.
The manager said some youngsters had shown they could offer the first team “quality”, after giving academy players plenty of opportunities during the summer.
That is a very different message from simply saying:
“You’re young, so you’ll get your chance eventually.”
Iraola is effectively saying:
If you’re good enough, you can be involved now.
Koumas is perhaps the biggest example
Lewis Koumas has arguably been one of the biggest beneficiaries.
The Welsh forward impressed during pre-season and looked increasingly comfortable operating in an intense pressing system.
He has already gained valuable senior experience from loan spells, and his performances have suggested that he may now be ready to take another step forward.
There have even been suggestions that Koumas is now considered well above academy level and could be an option for the first team.
That’s exactly what you want from a young player.
He isn’t simply being kept around because Liverpool don’t want to lose him.
He’s forcing his way into the conversation.
McConnell could provide midfield depth
James McConnell is another interesting case.
The midfielder has already made his senior Liverpool debut and has experience training alongside the first team.
With Curtis Jones potentially leaving for Inter, Liverpool could suddenly need more midfield depth.
That doesn’t necessarily mean McConnell will start Premier League matches.
But if Iraola trusts him, there is no reason why he couldn’t become a useful squad option.
And that’s how academy players eventually establish themselves.
First they’re training with the first team.
Then they’re on the bench.
Then they get 10 or 15 minutes.
And eventually, they become genuine first-team players.
Chambers and Ramsay offer defensive options
Luke Chambers also brings something Liverpool need: versatility at full-back.
With the demands of Iraola’s system, having players who can cover different positions will be extremely valuable.
Calvin Ramsay is another player who has been given an opportunity to impress.
His Liverpool career has been disrupted by injuries and loan spells, but being back around the first team gives him another chance to show Iraola what he can do.
And perhaps that’s one of the biggest benefits of the new manager.
Everyone starts with a clean slate.
This is how you develop an academy
Liverpool have always had a proud tradition of producing their own players.
But you can’t develop youngsters simply by talking about pathways.
You have to give them opportunities.
Iraola appears willing to do exactly that.
We’ve already seen Rio Ngumoha become an important part of the first-team picture, while other youngsters have impressed during pre-season.
Now Koumas, McConnell, Chambers and Ramsay are training with the senior group ahead of a huge opening-day test.
That’s encouraging.
And Newcastle could be the perfect test
Liverpool’s trip to Newcastle is hardly an easy environment for a young player.
St James’ Park will be bouncing, the intensity will be enormous and the Premier League season will suddenly become real.
But that’s also where you find out whether these youngsters are ready.
Iraola doesn’t need to throw them all into the starting XI.
He simply needs to make them feel that they are genuinely part of his plans.
And if one of them gets an opportunity because of an injury, suspension or tactical decision, they need to be ready.
Liverpool’s youngsters aren’t just making up the numbers.
Iraola is giving them a chance to prove they belong.
That’s exactly how you build a strong squad for the future.
And who knows?
The next Liverpool academy graduate to make a real breakthrough could already be training alongside the first team.
Jamie (The Kopite View)