Tribal Football

Liverpool legend McManaman: Academy production line in good health

Liverpool legend McManaman: Academy production line in good health
Liverpool legend McManaman: Academy production line in good health
Liverpool legend McManaman: Academy production line in good healthFlashscore
McManaman has been coaching in an advisory role within the Anfield team's youth setup.

He spoke to the Liverpool Echo about the work going on behind the scenes, as the Reds prepare to take on Sparta Prague in the Europa League on Thursday night.

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He stated, I'm very proud of the lads.

They've taken their opportunities when it's come to them.

They've been a credit to the academy, they've been a credit to themselves and long may it continue. They've been put into these situations because of circumstances with injuries, and they've all performed fantastically well.

They've added to the history of Liverpool Football Club by winning the Carabao Cup. They've all made themselves names now, on the lips of all the Liverpool supporters.

That's all you can do. Grasp your opportunity, go and play well, and then probably step back when everybody starts to get fit again. Let's be honest, once the first team gets everybody back, they're probably not anywhere close to the first 18.

But the fact that they have been given their opportunity and they've gone in and done it, it speaks volumes for their attitude and their work-rate, their willingness to listen and work hard. That's all you can say for them."

He added: Jayden Danns, I trained with him three weeks ago with the Under-18s and now he's winning trophies! He's done incredibly well and he's probably the youngest and most inexperienced.

James had only just jumped up to the Under-21s. Certainly Bobby had already been with the first team, in and around the first team in training a lot.

Jayden is the one with the least experience. But you can't pinpoint just one of them. They've all done really well as a group.

You've got people like Tyler Morton who is doing really well at Hull. Fabio Carvalho is also there. Luke Chambers is out on loan, Owen Beck has gone back out on loan.

Maybe if they were here, they'd be getting the opportunity so it just shows you that the club is in a really healthy position at this moment in time."