Liverpool may need to rely on the club's academy for options to bolster the senior team this season, and Andoni Iraola is not short of quality options to call upon
Will Wright is impressing in the Liverpool youth ranks
Will Wright is impressing in the Liverpool youth ranks(Image: (Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC via Getty Images))
Liverpool has a thin squad this season, which has raised some alarm bells about the competitive viability of the team across many competitions, but it could provide a route for the stars of tomorrow to feature.
While things on the pitch for the senior team could be going a little better, the academy at the AXA Training Centre is looking about as strong as it ever has. With a strong recruitment drive focused on signing quality youngsters for the future, Andoni Iraola is already seeing the impact of bringing through academy players who can make an impact.
Rio Ngumoha was signed from Chelsea at a young age and has quickly made himself into a quality wide option who is being given regular minutes. Trey Nyoni was brought in from Leicester's academy and has emerged as a midfielder with plenty of talent and potential for the future.
Even those who have spent longer around the club, such as Lewis Koumas, have managed to make something of an impact and have shown that there is a pathway from the youth ranks to the top competitions.
That gives hope to the other youngsters who are plying their trade with the academy, knowing that opportunities will be there for them, regardless of their age or experience, if they can meet the moment and hit the level required of them.
That's where a possible chance for Will Wright could come into play. The 18-year-old striker was signed from Salford last year, having shown promising signs with the League Two outfit.
Wright has impressed when given the opportunity
Wright has impressed when given the opportunity
Having beaten rivals such as Arsenal to his signature, Liverpool had a real capture on their hands, which he has since gone on to prove.
Featuring for the under-21s, Wright has scored six goals in six matches across the Premier League 2 and the EFL Trophy, along with one assist to his name, to show he is more than capable of playing at that level.
He sent perhaps the most convincing message yet in the UEFA Youth League for the under-19s group in midweek, featuring heavily in a comeback against LASK Linz.
Liverpool was two goals down, but Wright managed to score a hat-trick before providing an assist to fellow promising star Luca Eden, completing a majestic turnaround.
It may be the clearest message yet that the striker needs to get senior minutes at some point this season, with a real chance that Iraola could offer them to him at some point in the near future.
With injury issues up front, particularly surrounding Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike, there may be no better chance to throw Wright into the action at some point, albeit there will need to be some care with when he is deployed, as the jump from youth soccer to senior soccer can be a steep one.
However, the striker is making every case to show why he should at least be given a chance at some point. It feels more like a case of when, and not if, his opportunity will arise.