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Milner impressed by Liverpool youngsters

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The former City star has been impressed with the Reds' youngsters

The former City star has been impressed with the Reds’ youngsters

While you’d be hard-pressed to find anybody, whether in or outside the club, that hasn’t been impressed with Liverpool’s young stars this season, James Milner has gone a step further and said that the players are now starting to make their mark on the first team.

The likes of João Teixeira, Kevin Stewart, Brad Smith and Sheyi Ojo have all been highly impressive in the cup runs and many are now surely bordering on a break into the first team.

Speaking to Liverpoolfc.com, Milner said: “To perform how they did over those two games and when they’ve been called on this year is great. 

“[It’s] what we need as well, we’ve had a lot of injuries this year and you want those boys to come in and not just fill that spot for the time being but to push whoever’s holding that shirt and be part of the squad, improve and become better players as well.

“We can help with that and ultimately they’re the future of this club so the more games they get, the more experience and the more they can learn, it’s obviously better for everyone.”

Many of the younger players have taken part in both domestic and European cup games and, for the most part, have slipped in seamlessly. There is still, obviously, a long way to go but as the game at West Ham showed on Tuesday night, there are many that could conceivably push many of the currently under-performing first team players, if given a chance.

He continued: “You need the work-rate and the will to learn but also that attitude is so important as well.

“Nobody’s career [only] goes up, you have peaks and troughs and good times and bad times. You see a lot of promising young players and at the first sign of trouble – a loss of form or being dropped – you see them drop away and you might not see too much of them again.

“So it’s important they have that strong mental side, that attitude; you’re going to have managers who don’t rate you, you’re going to have knocks and injuries and things like that, but it’s about having that determination to come through that, work hard and be strong enough to deal with the ups and downs.

“Unfortunately, there are plenty of those in your career and you’re going to have criticism when you’re playing at the top level.

“When you’re playing for a club the size of Liverpool, there’s always going to be massive pressure to perform, scrutiny from the media, if you’re on social media there’s all that as well, being recognised in the street.

“It’s a big change the first time you start playing and it’s not only what happens on the field, it’s managing your life off the field.”

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I'm a 32 year old Liverpool fan, living in the heart of the City Centre. I've supported the club since the day I was born and have been writing articles for L4L for over 3 years, writing close over 350 articles in that time. My favorite player of the past generation is Sami Hyypia.

I am the current editor for L4L, with my day job being in R&D for the NHS.