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As Liverpool prepares to face Wigan at the FA Youth Cup, under-18 coach Barry Lewtas talks about the goal with his talented young team
While Liverpool's first team is preparing for more twists in the Premier League race, their under-18s are gearing up for the biggest game of their season so far.
Barry Lewtas will face Wigan on Wednesday in the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup. With the win at the Swansway Stadium in Chester, young Reds will dream of a first success in the competition since 2007.
The season has already been good for the Academy, with Curtis Jones, Rafa Camacho and Ki-Jana Hoever preparing for their first team debut since the beginning of the year.
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But what about others, those who quietly go about their business every day? Goal went to Kirkby to sit down with Lewtas and discuss each of his young charges …
VITEZSLAV JAROS – GUARDIAN
"An unsung hero, in my opinion. He was brilliant. We play openly and he made big stops in the games. He's a good boy, he's under 16 and his English is good. In fact, he is now speaking with a scouse accent. He swears that with one! It's funny to hear this Czech Scouser!
"But Taff [Mark Morris, the goalkeeping coach] did a great job with him and I think Vite plays a big role in the style with which we play. He works hard, he has been a real badet and there is still a lot to come. He is a very good guardian. "
JACK WALLS – DEFENDER
"He had to show a bit of character this season, competing with Neco's likes [Williams] and Ki-Jana [Hoever] at the back right. But he has a great spirit. He had two fractures at 15 and 16, the same leg as well. He had a difficult course, but he continued.
"He is really focused on improving.He is intense, he always wants to work, always wants you to help him.If he sees you hanging around, he always says: "Can you shoot me five bullets here? "like that, really conscientious and really honest.
MORGAN BOYES – DEFENDER
"He's been here since he's a boy, under 8 years old. He changed his position a lot. I remember moving him to the left back as a minor under the age of 15, while before he was rather an offensive midfielder. Now, we look at him more inside, as a central defender.
"He has grown up, he has a nice physical stature, he knows how to run the ball, he is comfortable with the ball and very aggressive in his defense as well.He had a glandular fever last year and had missed a lot of football, but he did well for us that term. "
TOM CLAYTON – DEFENDER
"He has just undergone surgery after having damaged the ankle ligaments. He is an unknown character of our team. we miss him a lot when he does not play. He is comfortable in possession of the ball, pbades the ball far into the middle of the field and is also a little behind the scenes.
"He is very wise and, when it comes to great moments, he is playing properly.It is a trusted player, which is very important when it comes to the game. a central defender who understands his game, what he can and can not do, and allows him to make good decisions.
"He is from St Helens and is a big rugby fan, and he attends every game of the Super League, so when we play in their stadium, he is a little stunned!"
RHYS WILLIAMS – DEFENDER
"He changed his hair recently, looks a little naughtier now! He has done very well, he has matured and he speaks very well. He's a big fan of Preston and he's been in the club for a long time.
"He is good in the air, and he helps us build and play because he wants to pbad the ball, he has the physical qualities and he has spoken a lot on the pitch, and he has worked very hard for that. He's upset and doing really well. "
REMI SAVAGE – DEFENDER
"Another with big hair! He continues to threaten to shave it but I tell him not to do it. He is another central southpaw defender who is very comfortable. He also played on the left-back. Another local boy from Aigburth. I've had it for years and I think it will play an important role in the second half of the season. "
PATRIK RAITANEN – DEFENDER
"The other player who has had some bad luck with injuries is a very strong central defender from Finland. It's funny, when we pair the players for one against one, I like to put Paddy and Niall [Brookwell] against each other. I close my eyes and turn around for that one!
"But Paddy has worked hard, despite some setbacks, and he will have his chance before the end of the season, that's for sure."
YASSER LAROUCI – DEFENDER
"This is his second season, he came from Le Havre last year and he settled down. His understanding of the language has improved immensely, he has worked hard and you can see he is more confident.
"He was a wide player when he came, but this year we just wanted to look at him left, because we think he has the attributes.He has a lot of athletics, he runs well in the Space, he carries the ball and he gives us a great width.
"He was a bit skeptical at the time, but over time, I think you can see that he's taking advantage of it, and we see it as a little success story this season."
NIALL BROOKWELL – DEFENDER / MIDFIELDER
"True competitor, he breaks the game, tackle, run, press. He is a good and reliable player who plays in midfield or as a central defender. This is another member of the Wigan clan, a good all-in-one boy, he will run through a brick wall for the team. Or attack one!
LEIGHTON CLARKSON – MIDFIELDER
"He's a good footballer, playing number 6 or a higher line. He goes ahead, switches the game, kicks, he has great technique.
"He had a good season, we lost a lot of creativity with Curtis Jones before the under-23s and seniors, but Leighton took it into account, even though he's more than dribbling."
JAKE CAIN – MIDFIELDER
"Leighton's criminal partner. He had very good seasons. Last year, it really progressed and this year it has further improved. Creative player, plays between the lines. He has worked well, he has got helpers and he is a very good boy to work with. He knows what he needs to do to improve, and it's never a bad thing. "
MATTEO RITACCIO – MIDFIELDER
"He came to see us this summer in America, and the first thing that struck me was how incredibly polite he is. The way he behaves is first clbad. Seriously, you want your children to end up like Matteo in this regard.
"But he also has that American spirit on the ground, he fears nothing, he can break the game, he can pbad, he can bond, and he really wants to learn." He's still in the room of video, he wants to do extras after the training, he is great for a coach. "
LUIS LONGSTAFF – MIDFIELDER
"He was no longer a wide player when he came from Newcastle and he really did very well for me at the under-16 level, but as he was evolving, we sought to use it at Inside it's more responsibility and a little mentality.
"He has a very good understanding of the game and he is a big supporter of the game. He has shown an excellent attitude towards learning and he has been to Melwood a few times to train with seniors. which is excellent for him. "
ABDI SHARIF – MIDFIELDER
"He's still going through all the fitness tests, he has great athleticism and we really focused on that with him this season, getting him to go shopping. We want him to run behind, using these attributes. He is a boy from the region and he has a bit of it! He is a nice boy, shaped like a violin and he can play too. "
EDDIE TAGSETH – MIDFIELDER
"Another who had a bad luck with injuries. He missed about a year through various problems. He is a great runner. Sometimes we have to master it a little and make it wait a little longer. We missed him, he gives us something different. It will be nice to get it back. He is versatile, he works hard and he can make a difference for us. "
ELIJAH DIXON-BONNER
"He joined Arsenal as a minor under the age of 15, and it always takes a while to settle. He's been here for a while, he's been recognized by England in youth and he's a midfielder with all types of attributes. We are probably experimenting with him a little bit, positionally.
"He's coming from Esbad, so he likes his clothes and all that!" He tries to make it sound like he's a tough Londoner, but he's not deceiving me! He's a nice boy, a little versatile, he always found his identity as a midfielder but he did well. "
JACK BEARNE – FRONT
"It's difficult for him, behind Paul [Glatzel] and Bobby [Duncan] at the beginning of the season. He did well for Steven [Gerrard] Last year, he is creative, tenacious, he likes the battle, he supports the ball well and he shoots his left foot.
"We signed him from Notts County, he's a boy from Nottingham and he has to be patient.He scored the derby winner against Everton earlier in the season.We will see him more in the second half of the season."
PAUL GLATZEL – FRONT
"He had a lot of trouble with his injuries, but fortunately it's behind him now. He had a double break and had a kick at school at the age of 15, which of course delayed him. We think of everyone here, and having these setbacks at the time, it was really difficult for him. He has rebounded brilliantly this season. He and Bobby scored 41 goals between them, which we can not hit.
"He is a very respected member of the group. Fluent in German because his father and mother are from there. He lives near Wigan and is a big fan of Wigan Athletic. The tie of the Youth Cup is therefore particularly special. I think he'd like it to be at the DW stadium!
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FIDEL O & # 39; ROURKE – FRONT
"It's a real No.9 trustworthy. You know what you will get from him, he will rush behind, he will connect the game and he will be an enemy against whom to play. He has the gift of being between posts to score shots, or ugly goals, if you want. He is also a very good character. He had the armband and gave the example of behavior off the field. "
BOBBY DUNCAN – FRONT
"He did a good job, to be fair to him. He came and scored goals, as I suspected. He had to adapt and integrate, and fair play, he got well. He had a difficult pre-season, where he was in the pool and he was running and he was barely on the field, but we had to improve our physical condition.
"And since day one, he's been hard at work and scoring goals, he's a very good forward and he scores all types of goals. [Glatzel] have been outstanding together. "
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