‘Go-to man’: Liverpool loanee already his side’s star player; he’s ‘frightening’

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Stewart Downing admits Liverpool loanee Harvey Elliott has become Blackburn’s “go-to man” at the age of just 17, describing the teenager as a “frightening” talent in conversation with the Rovers website.

17-year-old superkids are all the rage these days.

And while Elliott has yet to match the remarkable achievements of Jude Bellingham, Ansu Fati, Pedri, Gio Reyna and Jamal Musiala at the very top of the European game, the former Fulham starlet is certainly heading in the right direction.

Elliott moved to Blackburn on loan in the summer in search of the regular game time he was never likely to get in a star-studded Liverpool front line.

And with four goals and four assists in just 15 Championship appearances, the England U17 international is already starting to look a cut above in the second tier.

Elliott scored a long-range screamer against Millwall a few weeks ago and outdid himself with a wondrous, Salah-esque solo effort in the recent clash with top-of-the-table Norwich City too.

“Harvey is a frightening talent,” former Liverpool winger Downing says of his fresh-faced teammate.

“The lads have spoken to each other and mentioned you look back to when you were 17. You’re a bit of a headless chicken, aren’t you?

“But Harvey’s game understanding, his quality, his knowledge of when to release the pass, even with his goal, he never panics.

“He has the finesse, the quality, but he’s also fitted into the group very well.”

Of course you need more than a velvet touch and quick feet to thrive in Jurgen Klopp’s machine but, fortunately, Elliott already possesses the kind of unrelenting work rate the former Borussia Dortmund boss demands.

“I think most would look at (Elliott) and say ‘he’s good, he’s got the technical ability’, but he’s buying into everything – the pressing, tracking back. He’s a real team player,” Downing adds.

“We have to be careful with him because he’s still very young. But he’s almost the go-to man for us at the moment. He’s playing well and getting goals.”