Liverpool coach identifies ‘amazing’ academy star who could crack first team
A Liverpool youth coach has sang the praises of a young defender at the club after training with the first team this week.
Under-23 assistant manager Gary O’Neil has hailed the efforts of left-back Owen Beck following a memorable week.
The youngster recorded three assists in the squad’s 4-3 loss to Tottenham recently after making the step up to senior training.
“Owen Beck is an amazing one. He’s a young boy, he’s very small,” he told Talksport (via This Is Anfield).
“He’s been underdeveloped the whole way through. So he’s always been the smallest in his age group, one of the youngest.
“He’s played every game for us at under-23 level this season and has done some training sessions with the first team.
“People are saying, ‘he’s a bit small’, but these guys are there putting the work in. Now you see the benefits of it.”
Beck follows in the footsteps of academy graduates Curtis Jones, Neco Williams and Rhys Williams.
All three had breakthrough seasons last term and are now regular senior squad members.
With James Milner and Kostas Tsimikas both injured, Beck was invited to join the first team set-up with Jurgen Klopp prior to the 7-0 thrashing of Crystal Palace.
“We’re in the new training ground, which is fantastic, and Jurgen is on site,” O’Neil continued.
“So we played Southampton the other day and he was at the game, and he got to tell us what he thought at half-time.
“He gets to see some of the lads right up close. It’s fantastic for the boys as well.
“I remember when I was playing, if you were playing for the youth team and the first-team gaffer was watching there was always a little bit of extra buzz about. You felt you had a chance.”
Beck will be determined to stay in Klopp’s mind now that he has tasted senior training.
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