Two Liverpool stars have already sent a message to Andoni Iraola in pre-season.
Liverpool's pre-season tour of the United States is a crucial opportunity for new head coach Andoni Iraola to assess his squad in match conditions. According to Lewis Steele, a Liverpool supporter and guest on Media Matters for Anfield Index, two academy players, Trey Nyoni and Rio Ngumoha, are making a strong impression.
The pre-season tour is not just about fitness; it's also a chance for Iraola to identify players who can make a significant impact in the upcoming season. Steele highlighted Nyoni and Ngumoha as two names that Liverpool supporters should watch closely.
Trey Nyoni is a midfielder who has already been regarded as one of Liverpool's standout prospects. Steele expressed his excitement about watching Nyoni during Liverpool's opening friendly against Sunderland, saying, "I think for me, from what I've heard, Trey Nyoni is really stepping up in this preseason and I quite like him a lot. So, I think he's probably the one that I'd pick above all."
Nyoni has taken advantage of an unusual pre-season, where senior departures and injuries have created genuine opportunities for younger players to shine. Steele reinforced his assessment, saying, "As I say, Nyoni's apparently doing well."
The theme of this pre-season tour is that Liverpool has lost a few players in terms of exits, and they're a few light in terms of transfers at the moment. This creates a fascinating dynamic, as Iraola arrives with fresh ideas, no established favourites beyond the obvious senior figures, and a willingness to reward players who impress on merit.
Rio Ngumoha, a young winger, has also been making waves in pre-season. Steele expressed his interest in seeing how Ngumoha has progressed, saying, "I'm interested to see Rio after he's had his full season in the first team now and he's been with the England squad which can only be a good experience."
Ngumoha has undergone visible physical development during Liverpool's training sessions, with Steele noting that he "looks like he's bulked up a bit over the summer… he definitely seems like he's bulked up." This physical growth could prove important as Ngumoha looks to establish himself under Iraola.
Steele dismissed one story that circulated last season about Ngumoha, saying, "Actually, I think that Rio thing was a bit of nonsense to be honest." Instead, he focused on tangible areas of improvement, such as refining Ngumoha's off-the-ball skills and decision-making.
Iraola's background and coaching philosophy naturally encourage youth development. Steele explained that Iraola "believes in coaching players to be better" and has a history of promoting young players. This could benefit Liverpool's academy graduates immediately, with Steele predicting that players like Nyoni, Josh Aber, and Luke Chambers will receive opportunities under Iraola.
As Steele concluded, this could be a "really big season" for Ngumoha, and he "could end up being a, he's already had a breakthrough season, but I think this could be a real breakthrough when the rest of the Premier League sort of takes notice."
Source: Yahoo Sports