RAHEEM STERLING could be promoted to Liverpool’s first team squad for today’s Premier League clash with Wigan at Anfield.
The talented young winger is in contention to be named among the substitutes for the visit of Roberto Martinez’s strugglers.
Sterling, who scored for the reserves against Arsenal on Tuesday, has only narrowly missed out on a place in the 18-man matchday squad in recent weeks.
With Charlie Adam sidelined with a knee injury he suffered at Loftus Road in midweek and Martin Kelly (ankle) also struggling, together with the continued absence of Craig Bellamy, Glen Johnson and Daniel Agger, the Reds’ options are depleted.
Kenny Dalglish could turn to the 17-year-old who will be hoping to make his long-awaited debut two years after signing for Liverpool from QPR.
The manager says any youngster at the Academy looking to make the step up must earn the right with their performances and warned he won’t bow to pressure from outside the club.
“Whether someone is 17 or 27, it doesn’t many any difference,” Dalglish said.
“But whether you want to be involved doesn’t mean to say you should be involved. You have to deserve to be involved.
“The deserving bit is the most important thing and we will decide if anyone deserves to be involved, not anybody else. You earn the right to a run out by what you do on the pitch, not by what’s said in newspapers.
“Our young players have progressed because of the way they have been looked after.
“Raheem has progressed the same as a lot of young players have progressed and that’s testimony to the people at the Academy as well as the individuals. Our circumstances might dictate they have to be involved.”
Dalglish has already shown he’s fully prepared to put his faith in youth.
Last season Academy duo Jon Flanagan and Jack Robinson both enjoyed a run in the first team, while the likes of Kelly and Jonjo Shelvey have also gained senior experience.
With Liverpool highly unlikely to secure Champions League qualification there have been calls for the manager to use the remaining league games to give more youngsters game-time but he insists the timing has to be right for both the club and the player.
“We had Robbo and Flanno come through last year and then there’s Jonjo and Kells as well,” Dalglish added.
“Their development has happened because they were looked after.
“If we were in a better position we would maybe have allowed a few of the boys to go out on loan somewhere.
“But we’re not in a position like that because we don’t have the players available to cover for them to go out on loan.
“That would have been part of their development and part of the progress for us to have them back as good professional footballers. They had to stay here because of the position we are in with injuries. We hope it doesn’t stunt their development.
“For any youngsters in the squad here, they have only got there because we have managed them, either at the Academy or here. We have to continue to manage them properly.
“If it’s right for someone to play and they deserve to play then they will have a game but only if it’s right for us.
“There comes a time when you have to take the nappies off them and see if they have got it."
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http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2012/03/24/raheem-sterling-in-contention-for-a-place-on-liverpool-fc-bench-v-wigan-100252-30613320/#ixzz1q1xzwrnQp.s. re jon: 聽講佢早前簽左pro contract了~~
