WHAT were you doing at 17? Liverpool starlet Ben Woodburn has already written himself into the record books and his goal against Leeds is confirms the Reds’ investment.
As the new Reds’ youngest ever goalscorer, Woodburn returned to training the next day after his exploits against Leeds and fellow attacker Sadio Mane spoke of his great future, but Woodburn’s talent had been well known at the club for a decade.
“I want to congratulate him. He is a very good player and has a very good future,” Mane told Press Association Sport.
“I hope he will keep going and working hard and I think he will be a great player. Everyone was happy for him to score his first goal, especially in a big atmosphere at Anfield.”
Woodburn, who at 17 years and 45 days become Liverpool’s youngest player to get on the scoresheet, beating previous holder Michael Owen by 98 days, was spotted by the Premier League giants at just seven and quickly brought into their Academy set up.
Born and raised in Cheshire, and living an hour away from the Kirkby training venue for youngsters, Woodburn’s parents avoided moving closer for their son’s career.
So committed were the club to allow him to develop, they arranged for private transport between his family home and training — whether that be at Kirkby or now at the first team Melwood base.
When he was just 15, the youngster was brought into the Under 18 set up and has moved further up the ranks since. Former Academy Director Frank McPharland said when he left the club in 2013 that the then 14-year-old Woodburn was the club’s best prospect.
Manager Jurgen Klopp was quick to hose down hype about Woodburn post-game, hoping that he would not be distracted by the sudden flurry of attention.
“The only problem is I’m afraid about all you in the media. That’s why I’m so quiet [about Woodburn],” said Klopp of Woodburn, who in November signed his first professional contract, a three-year deal.
“We know how to handle the situation.
“He still has a lot of things to do and especially to keep the public away for as long as possible — but that is a difficult thing to do.”
Klopp added: “I said well done to him afterwards. It was not too difficult. I would have scored too in that situation. We know what Ben is capable of and what he is already able to do.”
Immediately after coming off the bench in the EFL Cup quarter-final and scoring in front of the Kop, there were calls for Woodburn to be called up into the English national team set up, with the Cheshire-born and raised winger playing youth football for Wales.
But Woodburn has pledged his allegiance to Wales, according to national team manager Chris Coleman.
“He’s said he’s committed to Wales and I’m happy to take his word for it,” Coleman was quoted as saying.
He’s not the only Liverpool youngster who could make up Wales’s front line for the next decade, with fellow Academy graduate Harry Wilson making his debut for the Dragons in 2013, at just 16 years and 207 days.
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