Liverpool Youngster Determined to Win Starring Role

When it comes to young wingers this season at Liverpool, all the talk has been about Ben Woodburn, the 18-year-old full Welsh international who impressed in pre-season and has just this month signed a new long-term deal. He’s not the club’s only young Welsh winger who could be in line for first team minutes, though.

There’s also Harry Wilson, who impressed massively with at the youth level last season and headed into the summer expecting to make a case for himself during pre-season only to pick up an achilles injury that ruled him out of the running. The 20-year-old is back in action now, though, and he wants to make his mark.

“It was frustrating for me because last season was a very good one on a personal level,” Wilson told the club’s official website this week. “I ended the season going away with Wales [and] I came back in pre-season with the idea of trying to impress the manager only to pick up my injury, which was a pain for me.

“It taught me a lot when I was out, and now I’m back hoping to continue how I left off last season. You can’t let it get you down in football because you might only get one or two chances and if you let it affect you you might not be right. It’s important to stay mentally strong so when your chance comes you have to take it.”

Wilson has faced a few injury setbacks in his youth career that have delayed the advancement of a player who was once considered a sure thing to start regularly for both club and country. So far, he’s made just one senior, first team appearance for both. There’s still time, though, and there’s still hope for the youngster.

Having been handed a senior Welsh cap—the youngest ever player to be given one at the time—and had his Liverpool debut, he knows he’s capable of playing at the highest levels and he’s determined to do so again, regularly, and to add significantly to the one appearance that he’s made for both so far in his career.

“It was special to make my debut last season for the club I have played for since I was eight years old and I love, so it was great for me,” he added. “But I want more of that. I don’t just want it to be that one game. I want more of it and hopefully if I keep impressing for the U23s I can get that.”