Liverpool has sent several of its young stars out on loan for the season, with one of them impressing plenty in the limited minutes he has landed so far
Keyrol Figueroa of Liverpool in action during the PL2 game at AXA Training Centre
Keyrol Figueroa has started to make an impact while on loan with Port Vale(Image: (Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images))
Loans can often make or break a young player's career, with Liverpool needing to choose the right destination at the right time to get maximum impact for those stars of the next generation who want to progress.
Someone like Lewis Koumas, who is currently impressing in the senior team, has been helped greatly by his loan spells at Stoke, Birmingham, and Hull that have prepared him for playing men's senior soccer at the top level in the Premier League, Champions League, and cup competitions.
The summer saw plenty of other youngsters make their way out on loan in the hopes of following in the footsteps of those before them, including striker Keyrol Figueroa.
The 20-year-old, son of former Wigan and Hull defender Maynor Figueroa, departed Merseyside in search of a challenge with Port Vale, as the League Two outfit looked to stabilize after last season's relegation from League One. It has been tough going for the team so far, but Figueroa has started to make an impact at the right time.
While there was initially some limited game time for the striker, he has started to make an impact. Two goals in his previous four appearances in League Two have helped the Valiants earn another four points on the table in the league.
However, it's the cup competitions where he has shone even brighter. In a start in the FA Cup first round, the Liverpool loanee picked up a goal and an assist to go alongside the goal he scored in the EFL Trophy against Manchester City's under-21s, continuing to show his quality.
That has taken Figueroa's overall tally to four goals and one assist for the campaign so far in just seven appearances, many of which have come from the bench. Breaking it down even further, that's a goal contribution every 57 minutes for the forward, which is quite the impact when called upon.
It's a start that the academy prospect will be hoping can translate into even more starts in the league, and perhaps more opportunities to show how much quality he truly has.
Keyrol Figueroa.
Keyrol Figueroa.(Image: Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Figueroa's journey so far has been an interesting one, having been born in Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras. The youngster moved around the world, spending time in England and the United States during his early life.
As he was growing up and starting to show his talent in soccer, the striker played for the USMNT at the youth level, featuring for the USA from under-17s to under-20s. However, earlier this year he committed himself to playing for Honduras, following in the footsteps of his father, who is the most-capped player in the nation's history.
The Liverpool prospect made his debut for the senior national team in the summer, featuring in a friendly defeat to Argentina. He has played a further four times, which included a first goal on the international stage against Jamaica in a 1-0 win.
Now called up again for the November international break, there will be some hope that Figueroa can take some of his domestic form into the international game once again, with a friendly against the UAE just around the corner.
It remains to be seen if the striker can keep up his form from this season, but the early signs have certainly been promising so far.