You can still be king of the Kop . . . just say sorry to the club you love, Bobby

Sorry is NOT the hardest word, Bobby

BOBBY DUNCAN wants to play for Liverpool. It’s in his blood.

I’ve met the England Under-18 striker a few times – and he is a born-and-bred Red who is driven by the dream of following in the hallowed footsteps of his cousin Steven Gerrard.

He is also a bright, bubbly kid who is popular in the dressing room.

A proper Scouser!

I know his dad Rob very well. And I can tell you that all he wants is to see his talented teenage son banging in goals in front of the Kop. I am desperately sad to say that it isn’t going to happen.

Not unless Bobby does the right thing and issues an unreserved public apology to Liverpool

Football Club.

It might also be wise for him to dispense with the services of his agent – or at the very least make sure he tethers Saif Rubie to a very short leash.

I may be 10,000 miles away from home in Brisbane, but I could feel the shockwaves caused by Rubie’s disgraceful attack on LFC this week.

His claim that Bobby is being kept at Anfield against his will and is now suffering with mental health issues has to be taken seriously.

I am sure Liverpool will ensure that their young striker will get all the professional help he needs.

But Rubie did Bobby no favours by going public about his client’s “small salary” or Liverpool’s apparent reluctance to offer him a new contract.

Bobby has two years left on the deal he signed when he arrived from Manchester City’s academy last summer.

You can be sure that Liverpool will reward him properly when the time is right. For Rubie to go on social media and attack Jamie Carragher, for having the temerity to offer his opinion on a situation that has developed between a player he knows well and the club he served with distinction for 17 years, was another sign that he’s a loose cannon.

Rubie has now taken down his Twitter account – which is the only sensible thing he has done during this whole sorry episode.

Unfortunately for him, he wasn’t switched on enough to press the delete button before some Liverpool fans had taken a look at some of

Even I felt shockwave of agent’s disgraceful LFC attack in Brisbane

his previous traffic. Let’s just say that Mr Rubie’s views on religion and sexuality are far from enlightened.

I’m not sure it is wise for any professional footballer to be associated with such an individual.

Bobby himself posted a tweet which, I believe, illustrates where he’s at. “I just want to play football!” was the message he sent out to his

37,000 followers before quickly deleting it. I know where he’s coming from. I was only 17 when I was named as a substitute for Liverpool’s FA Cup replay against Bolton in January 1993.

I didn’t get off the bench that night as we suffered a shock 2-0 defeat, but I assumed my debut wouldn’t be long in coming.

I had to wait four months before I got another sniff of the first team – and, once again, I spent 90 minutes sat behind boss Graeme Souness as we thrashed Tottenham 6-2 on

the final day of the season. I was disappointed – but it didn’t even enter my head to demand a transfer or get my agent to slag off the club in the newspapers.

I went away and got back to scoring heavily for the reserve and youth teams. Learning my trade.

It wasn’t until October that I finally got my big chance – and, boy, did I make the most of it by marking my debut with a goal in a 3-1 League Cup win at Fulham.

That was the first of 18 goals I notched that season, finishing just one behind top scorer Ian Rush.

I had made the grade at Anfield.

Now Bobby has to do the same.

I would be surprised if he hasn’t already apologised to Jurgen Klopp, sporting director Michael Edwards and academy director Alex Inglethorpe for his agent’s outrageous conduct.

But the important thing is to show his remorse publicly.

Bridges have been burnt. But they can be repaired.

After scoring 183 goals for Liverpool, I’d like to think I can offer a small piece of advice to Bobby that might help his career.

Say you’re sorry.