Half-and-half scarves are generally rejected by football fans, but one Van Morpeth family may have a good reason to invest in some when Liverpool Newcastle plays in the Carabao Cup final of next month.
That is the family of the midfielder of the young Reds, James McConnell, the Geordie Boy who could be the next cabin of the rank of the illustrious Academy of Liverpool. His close family, including his twin brothers and sisters, his lifelong fans of Newcastle.
Triplet McConnell, 20, is the hot prospect that is once described by Jurgen Klopp as 'absolutely insane'. Arne Slot NameCheck recently called him as one, he will 'absolutely not' allow to leave before the deadline of last week in January. He was surprised by how good he is.
Those who attend the public from Slot every week will testify that this was a break of tradition, the Dutchman is rarely one to praise individuals. “It's not about him, it's the team,” comes the standard reaction when asked about a player.
Whether Mohamed Salah has just broken another record, the young Conor Bradley has marked Kylian Mbappe from the game or Darwin Nunez has scored a last-minute winner, before the end it is never about the individual but the group.
With this in mind it was a pleasant surprise to see the length in which the Liverpool -boss was lyrical about James McConnell in Eindhoven last week. Calling a praising review would be an understatement.
The question from Mail Sport was not even about McConnell, but the young boys in general and, including Jayden Danns, Trey Nyoni and Tyler Morton Die, use a good shift despite losing 3-2 to the Dutch League leaders PSV. It was about whether someone would be on loan.
The answer from Slot was emphatically: McConnell is here to stay. “There is definitely one that will not go on loan and I think you know who it is,” said the boss. “James. I really liked him today. He is always very competitive. James just plays. '
Although it is a baby face and diminutive in physique, McConnell always gets up, regardless of the level. He played for the first team before, for example, he had played for the Under 21s and excelled on his Champions League arch against players with years of experience on him.
Although McConnell is a Newcastle fan in Newcastle, he has their bitter rivals Sunderland to thank for his rise. He was seen by the Black Cats when he played for Cramlington Juniors in Northumberland, collected at less than 10 level.
That is quite late for boys in the northeast. Due to the Drieweg-Scramble for young talent between Newcastle, Sunderland and Middlesbrough, players are usually invited to try much younger and in most cases signed at the age of eight.
But McConnell was eventually registered from the basis and originally played as a broad player. In Liverpool he mainly played as a no. 10 in the academy. Since he broke into the first team, he has been an in -depth no. 6. Talk about versatility.
The move to the heart of midfield was due to Klopp and his right hand Pepijn Libnders, who saw something in the death of McConnell, dribbling to break lines and tenacity that suggested that he could bloom there. Apart from a few frustrating injuries, he has hardly looked back since then.
Those injuries are the only concern to notice in terms of profiling the player, who have had opportunities during the summer tour through America, but a single problem not helped by the long-distance travel-has paid for it, causing him to play catches. -Up in terms of impressive new boss slot.
But even if he has been injured in recent years, those at the academy spoke to him. Academy director Alex Inglethorpe is supposed to have labeled McConnell the 'Dark Horse' of his age group, one who can ask coaches of the first team: “Where did you hide it?”.
After his return to fitness after his worries, McConnell was ready to leave on loan in January. Wycombe, the high-flyers of the League One, were very hot for him, just like Derby and Swansea in the championship. Loan manager Matt Newberry was ready to punish the deal.
Then the Curveball came from Slot, who checked him after a stellar show against PSV Eindhoven. Meetings took place in the following days to decide what was best and the conclusion was that McConnell would stay in place.
The player was open-minded for a move and wanted to start playing with regular First-team football. McConnell asked Slot if he would be closer to the manager's plans in the summer if he got around 15 games under his belt in the championship. No, the answer came.
Slot said the 20-year-old instead that he couldn't care about whether McConnell had played 50 games in the championship between now and May, he does not trust him for the future but now. He is ready to get a few minutes this weekend – from the start – against Plymouth in the FA Cup.
In the following year, the realistic target for McConnell is to challenge Wataru Endo as the natural representative if one of the deeper-lying midfielders was played or not available. Tyler Morton is likely to leave in the summer, the future of Stefan Bajcetic is unclear after his loan in Las Palmas.
The rise of McConnell is another show of Liverpool's recruitment drive to poach talented young people in their teenage years. Caoimhin Kelleher and Conor Bradley were both signed on 16, Prodigions Trey Nyoni and Rio Ngumoha – who can also occur on Sunday – similar.
He was noticed by scouts as a 14-year-old and was invited by Liverpool to play in the Mic Cup, a youth tournament. It was not a process, but more a guest appearance next to Harrison Jones who stayed in Sunderland and is now about to their first team.
McConnell flourished in that tournament and made the decision to move to the Anfield Club, which was an important step from his comfort zone. As a triplicate it was probably difficult to leave his brothers and sisters and parents – his mother works in the NHS and father in the fire brigade.
The timing was good because the McConnell school was placed, just happened to be on the road of a few family friends, who gave the home to the young star. He still lives there with 'childminders' and is described as a sober young man.
Given the public support of the player's conclusion, it would be no surprise if a new contract was soon on the table, despite the fact that he signed his last deal only 13 months ago. It is said that he is a great trainer and a beloved presence around the building.
“What I see is him on the training field that competes with all our midfielders,” said Slot on Friday. “He always gives everything he has.”
At the age of 20 there will be bumps in the way for McConnell and, to go out what people say about him, he knows he has not yet 'made it'.
But he is supported by the handle and has given a golden chance by lock to prove his value. He may not be able to act every week as if he could be published on loan, but if he looks back in 10 years, playing a role as supporting Cast for Liverpool's bid on trophies can be more memorable.
Comments