Calum Scanlon has revealed why Lewis Koumas' emergence for Liverpool and Wales has come as no surprise to those who know him best
Lewis Koumas of Liverpool (Image: Getty Images)
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Calum Scanlon saw Lewis Koumas' emergence coming a mile off.
The defender, who is on loan at Cardiff City from Liverpool, has spent years alongside Koumas on Merseyside, progressing through the club's academy with the Wales international.
Now Koumas is beginning to make his mark at senior level for both Liverpool and Wales, with his emergence during the latest international break providing a major positive for Craig Bellamy's side.
The 21-year-old has also established himself around new Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola's first-team squad this season after the Spaniard opted against sending him out on loan.
And Scanlon says there was nothing surprising about Koumas' rapid rise.
In fact, he believes one of the qualities that has always defined his former academy team-mate is exactly what has helped him catch Iraola's eye.
"I know Koumas pretty well," Scanlon said.
"I've been through the youth set-ups with him, under-18s, under-21s, and I've had first-team sessions with him and been on pre-season with him, so he's a player that I know very well.
"If you look at his game, how he presses, that relentless [approach], he's always at it. That's always been him, so it comes as no surprise that that's how he's got into the team."
Calum Scanlon is back at Cardiff City on loan from Liverpool (Image: Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
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Scanlon says Iraola is particularly appreciative of those qualities, with the Liverpool boss demanding an intense, aggressive approach from his players.
"The manager loves that," Scanlon said.
"He loves counter-pressing, he loves players that work hard, but he also has the attributes to go forward and to be an effective player."
Koumas' emergence has gathered real momentum in recent weeks.
He has been given opportunities in Liverpool's first-team squad and then carried that form into international football, where he has emerged as an increasingly important attacking option for Wales.
For Scanlon, though, the trajectory is no surprise given what he witnessed from Koumas during their time together at Liverpool.
"So there's no surprise for me," he said. "He's a top player and I'm sure he's going to have a good season."
Calum Scanlon congratulates Lewis Koumas of Liverpool on his goal during the second half of the pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Sunderland AFC (Image: Getty Images)
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Koumas' rise has already prompted plenty of discussion around his decision to remain at Liverpool rather than head out on loan again.
Former Reds midfielder Danny Murphy recently described the decision as a huge vote of confidence from Iraola, arguing that remaining around Liverpool's elite first-team environment could be more beneficial to the youngster's development than another temporary move elsewhere.
Murphy also highlighted the energy and tenacity Koumas possesses, qualities which Scanlon has now echoed from his own experience of playing and training alongside him.
And with Iraola seemingly valuing exactly those attributes, Koumas' stock at Anfield appears to be continuing to rise.
For Wales, that can only be viewed as good news.