Liverpool youngster James Balagizi has been told he could have a "fantastic career" after making an impressive start to life in senior football.
The 18-year-old midfielder is on a season-long loan at League Two outfit Crawley Town and netted the clinching goal in their shock 2-0 win over Premier League side Fulham in Tuesday's Carabao Cup second round clash.
Balagizi, who was twice on the bench for Liverpool's first team last term, has now scored three times in seven appearances this campaign.
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And Crawley boss Kevin Betsy, who worked with the youngster at international level having coached England between the age groups of under-15 and U18, believes his team were fortunate to acquire a player of such talent.
"I've known James a long time, I worked with him with England when he was 15, so I know the family," he said.
"These are the things when your connections are able to bring a player like him to the football club. We had no right really to be signing a player of his quality. In the number 10, he was phenomenal. He is growing from strength to strength each game.
"But the relationship that we have and the trust Liverpool have in us as coaches to give their players to us and allow them to flourish and progress speaks volumes for what we know we can do with young players.
"James, hopefully he's going to have a fantastic career going forward, and this is the early steps of understanding men's football and he's doing a really good job."
Balagizi was among a number of on-loan Liverpool players to feature in the Carabao Cup this week.
Tyler Morton played centre-back for Blackburn Rovers in their 2-1 win over Bradford City, left-back Adam Lewis contributed an assist in Newport County's 3-2 triumph against Portsmouth, right-back Conor Bradley was in the Bolton Wanderers team beaten 4-1 by Aston Villa and goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros kept a clean sheet in Stockport County's goalless draw against Leicester City only for the Premier League side to progress on penalties.
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