Liverpool teenager Harvey Blair has said that James Milner gave him some crucial words of encouragement before he played against Preston North End last October.
In an interview with liverpoolfc.com, the 18-year-old has recounted his only first-team appearance to date.
After getting over the surprise of training with Liverpool’s array of stars, Blair was then shocked to find that he was in Jurgen Klopp’s starting eleven.
But ever the elder statesman, Milner was on-hand to give some sage advice.
“Be yourself, express yourself because I know how good you are. Do everything you’ve been doing in training with us,” Milner told the youngster.
That sounds par for the course advice for an older player to impart on a younger colleague. What makes it worth noting is that Milner wasn’t even in the squad for the game at Deepdale.
The 36-year-old came along to offer his support anyway. This is the kind of thing that Jurgen Klopp meant when he said recently that Milner ‘sets the standards at the club’ via Liverpool Echo.
Milner the manager
Blair’s anecdote offers another insight into Milner’s future as a potential manager. Although Klopp has previously said that he expects the Yorkshireman to keep playing for the foreseeable future, it feels inevitable that he will end up as a coach.
A good example was when Liverpool’s youngsters took on Shrewsbury Town in the FA Cup fourth round replay in February 2020.
With the game falling at the same time as the mini winter-break, Klopp decided to send a young team managed by Neil Critchley out for the game.
Despite being given permission to take a break, Milner was at Anfield to cheer Liverpool on. After the game, Critchley thanked the vice-captain for his support.
“He [Milner] trained with us yesterday and he asked whether he could come along and be in the dressing room,” the now Blackpool manager said after the game via The Times.
“To have someone like him who has achieved so much. He was giving words of advice, he was animated, he was vocal, I could hear him. I can’t thank him enough.”
Milner is often categorised as a model professional who is physically impeccable. Whilst being a fair assessment, it does also downgrade his quality as a footballer.
Milly’s contract ends once this season is over. Whether it’s at Liverpool or not, Klopp has suggested he will keep on playing for now (Liverpool Echo). But when he does finally call time on an incredible playing career, he’s surely going to make an excellent manager.
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