Back in November 2016 Ben Woodburn became Liverpool's youngest-ever goalscorer.
His strike against Leeds United in a League Cup win came when he was aged 17 years, 145 days. It came just three days after his full debut and saw Woodburn overtake Michael Owen in the Anfield record books. Many tipped him for a bright future after that breakthrough strike.
Indeed, he would feature in a clutch of Reds' games in both the Premier League and FA Cup in the second half of that season. The following year club legend Steven Gerrard, the club's under-19s coach, labelled him "fantastic" after one particular dazzling performance in a UEFA Youth League clash and praised his work ethic.
Despite struggling to break into the first team, resulting in multiple loan spells away from the club, he still earned praise from Jurgen Klopp as recently as last summer. Woodburn had just returned following a less-than-successful stay at Blackpool but the German was thrilled by his attitude.
"He (Woodburn) always shows up in a top, top way," Klopp said last August. "In the pre-season he played right-back, did really well; played midfield, did really well; played the wing, did really well; played No.9, did really well. So that’s good."
But that goal against Leeds all those years ago would ultimately prove to be the high point for Woodburn, even at such a tender age. He would play just two more matches for Liverpool after that 2016-17 campaign, before a clutch of loans and his inevitable release earlier this summer.
Now, after leaving Liverpool, he has earned a fresh chance at Championship club Preston North End after a successful trial period ended with him signing a one-year deal. Speaking after being unveiled, Woodburn spoke highly of self-confessed Reds' fan and Preston boss Ryan Lowe.
"He's tried to get me a few times and unfortunately things haven't worked out there," Woodburn, now 22, said. "But now we can work together. I'm a fan of how he plays football, so I'm really excited."
Lowe added: "Ben's someone I've taken a real interest in over since he burst on to the scene at Liverpool at a young age. We can develop him into a top player for Preston. We've only had him with us for a week but you can see the quality he's got. He's a good footballer with a good footballing brain."
Woodburn was loaned out four times in his Anfield career, to Sheffield United, Oxford United, Blackpool and Hearts. Of the four temporary stints last season's spell in Scotland yielded the most success with Woodburn scoring three times in 28 appearances as Robbie Neilson's side finished third in the Premiership.
Woodburn is one of four signings made so far by Lowe as they aim to improve on last term's 13th-placed finish. Robbie Brady joins up on a one-year deal having won promotion last season with Bournemouth whilst goalkeepers Freddie Woodman and David Cornell have also arrived at North End.
