Advertisement

Liverpool forward Woodburn could make Wales squad

Ben Woodburn is Liverpool's youngest ever goalscorer Credit: PA

Liverpool teenager Ben Woodburn could join Wales' World Cup campaign against the Republic of Ireland next week - and end doubts over his international future.

Woodburn became the youngest scorer in Liverpool history - at the age of 17 years and 45 days - when he netted in the 2-0 EFL Cup victory over Leeds in November.

His Liverpool debut came as a substitute against Sunderland in November, and he has now made seven appearances.

Woodburn's Liverpool team-mate Harry Wilson—who became Wales' youngest player at the age of 16 years and 207 days when he played against Belgium in October 2013—is also under consideration for a call-up after impressing at Anfield in recent months.

Wilson, now 19, made his Liverpool debut in the FA Cup victory at Plymouth in January and was also on the bench for the weekend win against Burnley.

It is Woodburn who has made the big recent impact though, and while he has yet to start a Premier League game he produced an impressive cameo off the bench in the Reds' 2-1 triumph against Burnley on Sunday and Wales assistant manager Osian Roberts told S4C that he is close to a senior call-up.

He's knocking on the door now. What's definite is that there are a lot of young players in this group doing that. And we need that. We're really pleased with them.

A lot of them have already been in our camps for a week at a time to get that experience, so they can make that step when the chance comes.

It's important we have that freshness as we move on.

– Osian Roberts