The Scout: Liverpool’s Harry Wilson the next Sterling?

In our weekly Scout feature, Daniel Roberts takes a detailed look at a new emerging talent from the European and British talent pool. This week, Liverpool youngster Harry Wilson gets the once over.

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It’s becoming a yearly occurrence that a player will come through the ranks at Liverpool and leave an impact on the Premier League. With Jordan Ibe and Raheem Sterling having created a path to success, 18-year-old Harry Wilson is bidding to take inspiration from their rises and become that next big star at Anfield.

The Welsh international winger is currently on loan at League One side Crewe Alexandra, a hotbed for English youth production in its own right. However, even if little is known about the youngster around the country currently, his current career achievements are impressive to say the least.

Wilson first joined Liverpool’s Under-9s team, before becoming a full-time academy prospect at the age of 15.

Between the years of 2013-2015, the exciting prospect represented the Wales U17, U19 and U21 squads. What’s even more impressive, after catching the eye of national team boss Chris Coleman during an U17’s tournament, Wilson was called up for the full Wales side for their games against Macedonia and Belgium in 2013.

After watching from the bench in the first match, he made Welsh history in the second, after he replaced Hal Robson-Kanu to become the youngest ever international to represent the country. At the tender age of 16 years, 207 days, he ousted Gareth Bale at the top of the charts and broke a Liverpool record at the same time, becoming the club’s youngest ever full-international, which was previously set by a 17-year-old Raheem Sterling.

A gutsy left-winger, Wilson boasts tremendous speed, an impeccable left foot and the audacious talent to combine the two to ensure he will terrorise defences for years to come. He will no doubt be likened to Welsh left-sided legends Ryan Giggs and Bale and, although small in size, like Bale he can certainly handle himself on a football pitch.

With continued exposure to first-team football at Crewe, training in one of the best youth environments England have seen throughout the years, the future is most definitely an exciting one for Harry Wilson.

What the experts say

Chris Coleman, Wales manager: “If he fulfils his potential there is another good player on our hands. Now he has had a little taste of it, that cements his future with Wales for the next 10 or 15 years”.

Brendan Rodgers, former Liverpool manager: “To have him here at the club is brilliant. “He’s a very talented player who knows that he’ll have a great opportunity here if he continues to develop”.

James Collins, first team coach at Crewe: “He’s a terrific player with loads of talent. “He’s definitely got the ability to play at this level, if not higher, that’s why he’s at Liverpool”.

Where does the future lie?

Harry has a big few years ahead of him as he looks to nail down a first-team spot at either Crewe or his next club where he spends time on loan. Short-terms goals should be earning himself a chance to prove his talent in the Championship, but proving himself in League One will be an important step the Welshman’s future.

Wilson has all the attributes to become a superstar, and there is absolutely no reason why he can’t become the next Raheem Sterling for Liverpool in the upcoming years.

By Daniel Roberts, @djroberts22