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With Everton interested, what now for this 20 year old?

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After turning 20 at the end of December, Liverpool forward Nathan Eccleston will be expecting things to happen in his career very shortly. Since joining the club at the age of 15 from Bury, Eccleston has been very keen to make the progression from the academy to first team football. In the 2008/09 season at Under-18s level, he fired the team, along with strike partner Lauri Dalla Valle, to the FA Youth Cup final. Despite having regular success with the Academy side at the time, it was rumoured that Eccleston was apparently unhappy at the lack of progress he was making through the ranks and it was said he was stalling on a new contract as he looked for greater involvement. He had already made a scoring debut for the reserves back in the 2007/08 season, but he had seen most of his game time at the Academy, and his success at that level, meant that he felt he needed a move up to the reserves.

He was rewarded last season as Rafa Benitez moved him up to training at Melwood. With the promotion to the reserves, Eccleston also got some first team opportunities, and he came on as a late second half substitute for Philipp Degen in the 2-1 Carling Cup Fourth Round defeat against Arsenal. Benitez certainly had confidence in the player at the time and only three days later, he was given his Premier League debut when he came on against Fulham in a 3-1 defeat at Craven Cottage. With Manchester United and Blackburn Rovers interested in the player last January, it was good news to hear that the youngster had signed a new two year contract. Eccleston seemed to be happy enough with the progression he was making.

To aid his development, the young striker was sent out on loan to League One side Huddersfield Town and although he scored on his debut for the Terriers in a 2-1 victory of Yeovil, the loan spell saw him mostly used as an impact substitute, especially after his sending off against Gillingham which saw him receive a three match ban and limited him to just four starts during his loan spells. He therefore returned to Liverpool in the summer with still a lot to prove. New manager Roy Hodgson was however keen to use the player and aid his progression to the first team.

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5 comments

  • danny says:

    he’s probley not going to be good enough. let him go

  • Eric says:

    Quite frankly, can’t see him making it but at 20, maybe he deserves one more year. The guy’s got potential but if he’s good enough he’d be on loan at other Premier League clubs not League One. He’d probably make it at lesser Premier League clubs but at Liverpool I don’t think it’s going to happen. Also, Jay Spearing, at 22, he’s not going to make it so he should go in the summer. For me, the next generation will be Gulacsi, Kelly, Ayala, Mavinga, Suso, Shelvey, Coady, Pacheco and Sterling. I think once you get to 21 and you still haven’t forced yourself into the first team then it’s time to go. Having said this, Darby, Spearing, Irwin and Mendy can all go.

  • samuel charles says:

    agree; we are just famous for keeping hold of players that just are not going to make it, i make it around 13 players that are either out for long spells with injury or just over paid when wages and the clubs resources could be used to mcuh better effect.

    we have some players who are here for the money and some who are just nealry or over 30 years of age who are crap at best; for me id like to see the biggest clear out every with this lot gone;

    OUT;
    AQUILANI, COLE, POULSEN, KONCHESKY, NGOG, MAXI, AURELIO, BRAD JONES, EL ZHAR, INSUA, PLESSIES, DARBY, IRWIN, MENDY,

    WE NEED AT LEAST 6-7 MEW QUALITY PLAYERS;

    TEAM FOR NEXT YEAR WOULD BE;

    REINA
    KELLY CARRAGHER AGGER COENTRAO

    JOHNSON RAUL BANEGA

    GERRARD
    SUAREZ CARROLL

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