Jurgen Klopp says there is a big chance for young Reds starlets to make an impact this pre-season, and has hinted that Academy duo Bobby Duncan and Paul Glatzel could play a significant part.
The strikers played most of last season with Barry Lewtas’ U18s side before featuring more for the U23s as the campaign drew to a close. Between them, they scored around 60 goals at Academy level in all competitions.
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Both have been training at Melwood with the first-team this week as senior players begin to come back from their holidays. Klopp says Duncan and Glatzel will have the chance to go on the tour of the US, and will probably not just feature in more local friendlies against Tranmere Rovers (on Thursday evening) and Bradford (on Sunday afternoon).
Klopp told LiverpoolFC.com: “A lot of [the young players] will be part of the US tour. We have to use that because of the number of games we play. We need all of them and that’s nice.
“Only as an example: Bobby and Paul. Our offensive line that played last year is coming pretty late in joining us in the pre-season, so we have to be creative system-wise and all that stuff, but there will be moments when they have to play.
“Not only at Tranmere or whatever, but in America as well when we play Borussia Dortmund and all the other guys.”
Anyone who watched the Academy sides last season will know how much talent the pair have – they were crucial as the young Reds became FA Youth Cup champions for the first time since 2007, beating Duncan’s previous club, Manchester City – but for Klopp to be taking them on tour at such a young age shows the promise he feels they have.
It will be a great experience for the duo, who will step up full-time to the U23s next season under the guidance of Neil Critchley.