Liverpool only signed Ki-Jana Hoever in September, but his rise has been rapid.
The club paid Ajax £90,000 for the 16-year-old, apparently beating Manchester City to his signature.
Manager Jurgen Klopp has not been afraid to give youth a chance, with 20-year-old Trent Alexander-Arnold making the step from academy to first team player in recent seasons.
And Hoever, who can play in both the centre of defence and at right-back, made history when he became the third-youngest debutant – and youngest ever in the FA Cup – in Liverpool’s history when he played against Wolves.
Aged just 16 years and 354 days, he was initially named in the squad, but found himself thrust into the spotlight when he replaced Dejan Lovren during the 2-1 defeat.
“He did well. He came on and did well,” Klopp said about a player who still earns a £145-a-week scholar contract. “That’s how it sometimes starts – when you are really needed then it is only about if you are good enough and not how old you are,” the manager added.
As the Liverpool Echo point out, though, Hoever will sign his first professional contract when he turns 17 on 18 January meaning he is likely to see a pay increase.
The same newspaper also reveal how, with Klopp short on numbers during a training session in December, the teenager impressed many of the first team players by how he handled Mohamed Salah when asked to join the seniors at Melwood for the first time.
With compatriot Virgil van Dijk there to learn from, things are looking up for the Netherlands U17 international.
