Northern Ireland teenager Conor Bradley is in the mix to deputise for the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold in Liverpool’s FA Cup quarter-final with Nottingham Forest.
First team star Alexander-Arnold faces several weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring injury and will sit out Sunday’s knockout fixture at the City Ground (6pm).
And that means Bradley, who hasn’t featured since January’s third round win over Shrewsbury, could be handed a rare start in the last-eight tie.
Read more: Joe Gormley's 'brutal' Cliftonville arrival and the goal that changed everything
Ahead of today’s cup clash, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp spoke of his admiration for the mobile right back who made his Northern Ireland debut last summer.
“Conor is a top boy,” said Klopp. “Because we have had a full squad, he was not with us all the time.
"There was a spell where he was pretty much in all sessions with us. But not now in the last few weeks so I cannot say exactly how he developed in the last few weeks because he was not here.
“But from the things I know and what I saw, [he is] a wonderful talented boy with a big heart. A real fighter and it’s a joy to have him around.”
Bradley has made five senior appearances for Liverpool since making his debut in an EFL Cup win over Norwich City in September.
The 18-year-old has won five caps for Northern Ireland; making his debut in a 3-0 friendly win over Malta in Austria in May 2021.
Read More: Paddy Lane says Northern Ireland call-up reduced his mum to tears
Read More: Mark Sykes named in Republic of Ireland squad for Belgium and Lithuania games
Sign up to our free sports newsletter to get the latest headlines to your inbox.
