Elliott’s got the belief to battle back
HARVEY ELLIOTT’S exceptional inner belief will guide the precocious Liverpool teenager through the toughest months of his career.
Huw Jennings, who helped nurture the outstanding forward’s fledging career at Fulham, has seen at first-hand the drive and determination which will be needed more than ever as Elliott recovers from his sickening ankle injury.
“I was listening on the radio when it happened at Leeds and I’ve since seen everything relating to it,” said Fulham’s head of football development.
“I sent a message to his dad Scott wishing him all the best. It’s one of those classic examples of going from a massive high to a massive low.”
With the progress he has made – this season becoming one of Anfield boss Jurgen Klopp’s major players – it’s hard to believe that barely three years ago he reported for his Fulham debut in his school uniform.
At the age of 15 years and 174 days he became the club’s youngest-ever player after coming on as a substitute in a League Cup tie at Millwall. Less than two years later he was on his way to Liverpool.
Jennings (right) added:
“What some people underestimate about
Harvey is just how young he still is.
“He has already done a season’s loan in the
Championship with Blackburn when he was 17. He’s played for Fulham and Liverpool in the Premier League and he’s still 18 and not 19 until April.
“In a way that will help as he takes stock of this injury because he has already bagged a lot of experience and can come back stronger.
“The maturity he has shown to become quite a key player for Liverpool in a short space of time is testimony to his work ethic, to his belief and to his football intelligence.”
In a previous role in the Southampton academy Jennings also helped develop the likes of Gareth Bale, Adam Lallana, Theo Walcott and Luke Shaw, who have all suffered setbacks at various stages of their careers.
Jennings insisted: “I do think in time this experience will hold Harvey in very good stead. Several former Southampton players all had major setbacks and big bumps in the road through injuries, illnesses etc.
“I think of Luke Shaw, who has come back from a serious leg break.
“They have come back stronger because they have this special feature which sets them apart.
“Harvey is going to learn a lot about himself in the coming months.”