Wales stars back teen sensation Ben Woodburn to make impact at Liverpool after dream start to international life
- Ben Woodburn got his Wales career off to the best possible start against Austria
- The 17-year-old scored on his debut, before setting up the opener in Moldova
- Ben Davies has backed Woodburn to have same impact on Liverpool return
- READ: Liverpool set to reward Ben Woodburn with new long-term contract
Wales players believe Ben Woodburn is ready for a run at the Premier League as Chris Coleman insists he will continue to be selective over using the teenage Liverpool forward.
In the aftermath of Woodburn’s second dramatic intervention for Wales in four days, Ben Davies said the 17-year-old has enough ability make an impression against English football’s best defences.
Woodburn is yet to feature in a matchday squad for Liverpool this season, having started one Premier League game, three FA Cup ties, and five substitute appearances last term, but Jurgen Klopp did not sanction a loan move in a sign of how highly he is viewed at Anfield.
Ben Woodburn was the catalyst for a Wales double victory during their recent qualifying ties
The Liverpool teenager set up Hal Robson-Kanu to open the scoring against Moldova
Coleman admitted the Liverpool manager thought Woodburn’s first Wales call-up for March’s World Cup qualifier against Republic of Ireland came too soon but after a stunning winning goal four minutes into his debut on Saturday, and a vital assist off the bench in Moldova on Tuesday night, Davies would not be surprised to be facing his new international team-mate at club level in the near future.
‘It is obviously not my call but I think he is a top player,’ said the Tottenham defender. ‘For me, what he has done the two times he has come on shows he can hack it with the best. If you put him on in any game he can have an impact. He has changed the games.’
Coleman added: ‘It will be up to Jurgen Klopp and Ben on how close he is to the first team. We've seen he is a very bright young player.’
Coleman and Klopp experienced tensions over Woodburn’s initial international involvement at senior level, four months after becoming Liverpool’s youngest ever scorer in a League Cup game, but the Wales manager has been careful over selection, and vowed to continue that approach.
Chris Coleman has revealed he ignored advice from Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp on his player
‘Jurgen felt it was a bit early for Ben but we’ve all got opinions which is what is great about football,’ said Coleman.
‘I felt that if he was in the first team for Liverpool, and he had scored that great debut goal at the Kop end, then he was ready.
‘We know Ben’s got the capacity to open a defence up but we have to protect him and give him guidance, hence why he didn't start against Moldova.
‘He’s used to working with really good defenders every day at Liverpool but there’s nothing that prepares you for a 90 minutes out there, it’s completely different.
‘He’s very young and we have to take it slow unless we’re forced to and then we’ll have to be careful.’
Wales boss Chris Coleman admits it is his duty to protect Woodburn and help his development
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