Leighton Clarkson shone as Barry Lewtas’ Liverpool nearly won the Premier League U18 title last season.
Liverpool coach Barry Lewtas has confirmed to the club’s official website that Under 18 star Leighton Clarkson was handed the chance to train with Jurgen Klopp’s first-team squad this week.
Lewtas enjoyed an almost perfect start to life in charge of Liverpool’s youngsters last season, winning the FA Youth Cup and finishing second behind Derby County in the U18 Premier League. Only goal difference prevented the Reds from pipping the Rams to the title.
Since then, Yasser Larouci, Ki-Jana Hoever and prolific strike duo Paul Glatzel and Bobby Duncan have been promoted to the U23 squad, though Lewtas still has plenty of talent at his disposal.
17-year-old Clarkson has been tipped for big things for a while now and signed his first professional contract in July after catching the eye with his ability to cut open a defence with a pinpoint through ball.
The Lancashire-born teenager has now been given the chance to show he belongs at a higher level with Klopp seemingly keen to have a look at him first-hand. Clarkson has been pictured going toe-to-toe with Champions League winner James Milner and he appears to be loving life at Kirkby.
And Lewtas believes exposure to the senior ranks should only push Clarkson further.
“He got an opportunity to go (to the first-team) and train which is great for his development,” Lewtas said. “I had a good chat with him, which was quite lucky really because it was his review meeting this week.
“I was able to pick his brains, he enjoyed it and he was very honest in his reflections. Those experiences are good for him.”
With Liverpool looking for success in a variety of competitions this season, don’t be surprised if Clarkson gets a run out in the Carabao Cup or FA Cup in the next few months.
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