Jurgen Klopp has namechecked Liverpool youngster Bobby Clark as an ‘interesting’ addition to senior training.
Clark, who is just seventeen, has travelled with the squad to Dubai during the World Cup break. Alongside other youngsters such as Ben Doak, Clark will be hoping to catch Klopp’s eye. And as per the manager’s sit down with liverpoolfc.com, he looks to have done just that. The ‘interesting’ Liverpool youngster one of several to impress Jurgen.
“They [the young players] did incredibly well,” said the boss. “Stefan [Bajcetic] did incredibly well, so many showed really up to be honest, others have to adapt. For example Calvin [Ramsay] had no pre-season with us, now this is his fist pre-season. He was long out, very important for him to get to know everybody.
“Ben Doak looks really promising now he’s here with us. Bobby Clark – really, really interesting player, obviously he’s here with us. But they showed already that they look good.”
Clark earns chance to shine for Liverpool
Clark’s reputation at Liverpool has been thoroughly enhanced during the early part of this season.
First, he was taken on the Reds’ tour of the Far East during the summer. Having done okay there, he then managed a Premier League debut during Liverpool’s 9-0 hammering of Bournemouth.
This was followed by a first start for the club – last month’s 0-0 Carabao Cup game with Derby County.
Although he hasn’t troubled the scorers in those appearances, Clark has stood out as someone with good technical quality.
Watching him play, it’s clear that he hasn’t quite managed to nail down a position yet, though. Against Derby he was part of the Reds midfield. He played that role well, shuttling about and looking tidy in possession, but he’s generally played further forward for the youth sides,
As a result of Luis Diaz’s injury setback, that might be where Liverpool need him the most right now. With gaps potentially opening up in the squad, there is a chance to make a breakthrough.
The first of those opportunities could come tomorrow afternoon against Lyon. Although we think Klopp will go relatively strong with his starting XI, there’s likely to be plenty of substitute involvement, too.
With some first team starters still yet to return from the World Cup, Clark may never get a better moment to stake his claim.
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