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Following a strong showing in pre-season, Jordan Rossiter was promoted to the senior squad. He may not always make the matchday squad, and he may join the reserves on occasion to keep his match fitness, but he will spend the year training with the first team and is expected to see minutes both off the bench and in the cups.
Having made his league debut off the bench against Arsenal and getting in the squad as an unused substitute against West Ham, it's clear the 18-year-old midfielder is in Brendan Rodgers' plans along with youngsters Joe Gomez and Jordon Ibe. Now, he wants to repay the faith his manager has shown in him and push on to become a matchday regular over the coming months.
"I've had a good pre-season and been working hard to impress," he said. "Luckily I managed to get my first Premier League appearance last week. There were seven or eight [youth team players] who went away in pre-season with the first team. You don't see that as much with some other clubs, but we know if we do things right we can get a chance"
It's been a promising start to the season for Rossiter, though his move into the first team as a regular squad member is coming a half-season later than he perhaps thought it would. That's because following his senior debut last season, Rossiter similarly looked set to play a role in the first team. At least until an ankle injury ruled him out of the action.
"It's been an up and down year," added Rossiter, who's currently on duty with England's U19s. "I made my debut last September and was in and around the first team and felt I was playing well. But then I had a disappointing injury to my ankle ligaments which kept me out from January until July. It was tough, but I just had to work hard and make sure I got back."
It's safe to say he's managed that, and now he looks set to be one of three teenagers with a significant role for at club this season. With a busy September that includes Bordeaux in Europe, Carlisle in the League Cup, and Norwich and Aston Villa in the league in addition to a tough trip to face Manchester United, a first start might even be on the horizon.
