WILLIAMS IS POISED FOR GIGGS CALL
NECO WILLIAMS could be rewarded for his meteoric rise through the Liverpool ranks with a place in the Wales squad.
National team coach Ryan Giggs has received a series of increasingly glowing reports on the progress of the 18-year-old, who has been promoted to the Reds’ first-team squad by Jurgen Klopp.
And Williams’ man-ofthe-match display in the FA Cup win over Shrewsbury may mean a call from Giggs, with two friendlies scheduled for the Dragons at the end of March against Austria and the USA.
That opens the prospect of the Wales Under-19 fullback forcing his way into the reckoning for the senior squad and this summer’s Euros.
Anfield boss Klopp has shown increasing faith in Williams, who has been a regular in the squad in recent weeks and has made four appearances, with the prospect of that run continuing in the FA Cup, where Liverpool have a fifth-round tie against Chelsea.
Williams was in Doha for Liverpool’s Club World Cup campaign and he won his first medal when they defeated Flamengo in the final.
Giggs will hope for another glimpse of the youngster in action before he names his squad for the two games at the end of March, but it seems likely Williams will get his first call up to the national team.
IF there was just a hint of moisture about the eyes of Curtis Jones at Anfield on Tuesday night, there is little wonder.
He had just led the youngest Liverpool side in the club’s history to an unlikely FA Cup victory as the youngest-ever firstteam captain, and a record breaker for the third time in a month.
And he did that in front of his family, who watched on from the stands as they had done home and away throughout his lifetime.
So, at 19 years and five days, to jump ahead of Alex Raisbeck (skipper in 1900 when he set the original record), and the likes of Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher and Robbie Fowler on the all-time list, was an incredible moment. “Being the captain, it’s a dream come true,” he said after the win over Shrewsbury. “It has always been a dream since I was a kid and I think that goes for any local lad.
“The dream for any academy lad, and even in the first team now, is to captain this great team in front of unbelievable fans. So, to do it at such a young age is a huge honour, and one which will stick with me the rest of my life regardless.”
Those are not hollow words. Jones (left) was taken by his mum to watch Liverpool as a kid, not just the first team where he marvelled over Gerrard’s qualities, but the Under-21s and junior sides too.
His family travel to most of the games still, and for a Toxteth-born kid, the chance to follow in the footsteps of local hero Fowler is beyond pride.
Jones has an inner belief to match his talent, and despite having to pinch himself when he led the young side out, it didn’t stop him leading by example.
He gave the largely teenage side a speech beforehand, and explained: “Regardless of whether I was captain or not, I was always going to get around the lads.
“They look at me and see me with the seniors every day, so it’s only right I get around them. The rest of the staff were great in the build-up, James Milner (below) was in there giving a talk, so the boys were confident and did exactly what happens when young lads play.”
But the most significant support comes from the very top, with Jones convinced youth will continue to be given first-team opportunities under manager Jurgen Klopp.
“For any player on the outside looking in, they might say Liverpool is a hard team to get into, in terms of the players they have in each position,” he said.
“They have a world-class starting XI, but everyone sees the gaffer is there for the youth and has belief in them.
“That is why he gave us this opportunity and gave me other opportunities along the way. I am sure the rest of the boys will get theirs in time.”
Speaking about Jones as a 17-year-old, who was taken on a pre-season tour to the US, Klopp said the midfielder was “not shy to say a few things” and Jones added:
“For any young player trying to come into a team with players who are the best in the world, you have to do that.”
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