A good piece this to put it into context where he is now, and a nice insight into the link between the academy and the first team now under Klopp;
Academy chief full of praise for Reds midfielder after remarkable rise under JĆ¼rgen KloppAcademy director Alex Inglethorpe believes Kevin Stewart is the perfect role model for any youngster looking to make the grade at Liverpool .
The 22-year-old midfielder has enjoyed a remarkable rise with the Reds since he was released by Tottenham two years ago.
In the past 12 months Stewart has gone from being on loan at League One outfit Swindon Town to establishing himself as a valued member of JĆ¼rgen Kloppās first-team squad.
He clocked up senior 11 appearances last season and has come off the bench in three of Liverpoolās four matches so far this term.
āIāve not been surprised because Kev is one of the hardest working players Iāve ever worked with,ā Inglethorpe told the ECHO.
āHeās obsessive about getting better. His desire to improve is incredible.
āYou donāt really take on much of a risk with a lad like that. You feel like heās never going to let you down through effort and you know heās got talent to work with.
āHeās only going to improve every year given the opportunity.
āKev always led by example during his time at the Academy. He tends to out-work most of those he works alongside.ā
Stewartās progress was recognised by Klopp when he was given a new four-year contract back in February.
It was Inglethorpe who brought the boyhood Reds fan to Merseyside in the summer of 2014. He knew exactly what Liverpool were getting having worked with him during his spell as a youth coach at Spurs. He also took the decision to push Stewart further forward into a midfield role.
āKev was in my under-18s at Tottenham,ā Inglethorpe said.
āHe got released along with Lawrence Vigouroux (who also joined Liverpool before being sold to Swindon this summer).
āKev was a right-back or a centre-half as the pathway was blocked in midfield. We had the likes of Tom Carroll and Jake Livermore, and Harry Kane played there occasionally.
āPart of the rational for Kev coming here was that there was a clearer pathway for him to play in a different position. As soon as he came in, we played him in midfield.
āHeās very humble. He appreciates the opportunity heās been given. He doesnāt take anything for granted.
āHe could have signed for Sheffield United and other Football League clubs. But his decision to come here was based on the fact he felt he had room for improvement and wanted to be in an environment where he could carry on getting better rather than going into someone elseās first team.
āThat was a big decision to take. It probably meant he was a bit poorer initially because he was in an Academy set-up rather than a first-team set-up but hopefully that decision has been justified now.ā
Stewart made his first-team debut last season, along with fellow Academy rookies Cameron Brannagan, Pedro Chirivella, Ryan Kent, Joe Maguire, Sergi Canos, Danny Ward, Connor Randall and Sheyi Ojo.
This summer others from the clubās Kirkby base have stepped up with Ben Woodburn, Ovie Ejaria and Trent Alexander-Arnold all impressing Klopp in pre-season.
Klopp recently told the ECHO that the calibre of the talent emerging is testament to the work of the Academy staff and underlines why he hasnāt made any changes to the personnel at Kirkby.
āItās incredible when you get an endorsement like that from the manager but that canāt become complacency,ā Inglethorpe said.
āItās our job to try to keep it that way at the Academy. We have a good staff here. We have to try to learn quickly and adapt to what the manager wants and what specific qualities he wants from players when they go up there.
āWe believe weāre getting a better grasp on that. Itās great to have players in and around the first team and itās also great that weāve been able to sell some Academy players.
āBut the real test is getting someone to go in and stay in and win trophies with that collection of players. Thatās the dream. Thatās why weāre here.ā
First-team development coach Pep Lijnders is the key link between Kirkby and Melwood. He calls Inglethorpe on a daily basis to request that certain youngsters are sent to train with the first team.
The Dutchman also oversees the āFutures Groupā which features the cream of the Academy crop from under-15s upwards. The weekly sessions at Melwood are watched closely by Klopp.
āItās a nice set up,ā Inglethorpe said.
āI text or speak to JĆ¼rgen at appropriate intervals. But I speak to Pep on a very regular basis about how the boys are doing, who needs to go up there, who is ready for the opportunity, who is going to drop down.
āThe under-23s train at the same time of day as the first team. We are a means to an end. We have to serve the first team and try to make their lives easier, whether thatās providing players for training or with staff moving up to Melwood. Thatās the job of an Academy.
āThe Futures Group gives boys an opportunity to go in and train at Melwood. Itās one day a week and the group is changeable as the season goes on. You can play your way in and play your way out.
āIāve been there myself and seen JĆ¼rgen watching it. The boys get a feel for what itās like to train at Melwood.ā
Since Kloppās appointment last October, coaching for the under-18s and under-23s has been tailored to suit both the style and the formation favoured by the manager.
āThey are the ones closest to the first team so they are the ones who need to know exactly what JĆ¼rgen demands from each player, on and off the pitch,ā Inglethorpe said.
āFrom the under-16s down, itās more of a developmental pathway where weāre trying to hone techniques. Youāre not quite so worried about some aspects at that stage. But itās vitally important that the older boys understand what the manager wants.ā
With no European football cluttering the schedule, getting more youngsters through this season wonāt be easy. But if they show the same commitment and attitude as Stewart then Inglethore says they will give themselves the best possible opportunity to catch Kloppās eye.
āIt will be much harder this season, we know that,ā he added.
āBut I do think for some of the boys who had a taste of it last year, itās really driven them on.
āThe manager is always looking towards youth. With some heās decided they need a bit more time or a different challenge elsewhere perhaps.
āBut for a couple of them itās meant you can stick around here. Someone like Kev Stewart has benefited from going in as a relative unknown.
āIt looks like heās now part of that squad and his challenge now is to force his way into the team on a regular basis.ā
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpools-kevin-stewart-perfect-role-11834618 To be dropped from a Premier League club at 20, when so many are expected to be pushing for the first team has to be tough for any young player to take. To then turn down what has to be financial and professional security to drop down to the football league, to take on an academy role is impressive. And shows the confidence he has in his own ability, hopefully he can continue his upward trend. Well in Kevin lad.