BURN TO BE KING
Coleman: I overruled Klopp and played Ben.. if he’s scoring for Liverpool, he’s ready for Wales
CHRIS COLEMAN admits ignoring Jurgen Klopp’s advice about Ben Woodburn when he threw the youngster into Wales’ World Cup qualifying campaign.
The teenager is yet to play for the Liverpool this season, but Wales boss Coleman twice turned to Woodburn at international level.
And the 17-year-old rose to the challenge with two key displays off the bench.
Coleman revealed that Liverpool boss Klopp had concerns about pitching the youngster into Wales’ battle to reach Russia.
He said: “Jurgen Klopp felt it was a bit early for Ben, but we’ve all got opinions, which is what is great about football.
“I felt that if he was in the first team for Liverpool and he is – he scored that great goal at the Kop end – then he was ready.
“We weren’t going to start him in both games and play him for 90 minutes, we were going to be choosy with when we use him, but he’s a good young talent.
“He’s used to working with really good defenders every day at Liverpool. But there’s nothing that prepares you for 90 minutes out there – it’s completely different.”
The attacking midfielder came on against Austria (right) to score the only goal late on from outside the box on his debut.
Then on Tuesday he turned the game in Moldova with his assist in the 80th-minute goal that sent Wales on their way just as they were toiling 0-0 against a side ranked 159th in the world. Woodburn had already made a name for himself, becoming Liverpool’s youngest scorer in November last year against Leeds in the League Cup. His heroics have sparked rave reviews from Welsh team-mates and fans, who have taken the teenager to their hearts. Ben Davies, who won his 32nd cap against Moldova, said: “He’s a top player and for me what he has shown the last two times he has come on shows he can hack it with the best. If you put him on in any game he can have an impact.
“He has changed the games and when you have a player like him, especially at his age, he looks like he has a long future ahead with Wales.
Woodburn has made nine senior appearances for his club, with eight as sub, and Coleman warned: “These youngsters, even Ben Woodburn, have it all to do because I know how tough it is to stay at the top level in this industry.
“It gets harder, but he’s got a great attitude and has shown great promise. We have to protect Ben, hence why he didn’t start.
“He’s very young and we have to take it slow unless we’re forced to and then we’ll have to be careful.”