Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has praised the efforts fellow scousers Jay Spearing and Stephen Darby on their pre-season tour of Europe.
Precious few local lads have successfully negotiated the step from the Liverpool reserves to the first-team in recent years – virtually none since Steven Gerrard, in fact.
Ormskirk-born Stephen Warnock threatened to break the mould but never managed to displace John Arne Riise – now of Roma – before being sold to Blackburn Rovers last year.
Carragher and Gerrard have thus been flying the banner for born and bred Liverpudlians at Anfield ever since Michael Owen’s departure for Real Madrid in 2004, but the Kop may have a few more scousers to cheer on before long.
Spearing and Darby were instrumental elements of the title-winning reserves team last season and have featured prominently during the Reds’ summer hit-outs in Switzerland and Germany.
And Carragher, who is known to take a great interest in the club’s youth prospects, believes both boys are capable of making the grade.
"All the young lads have done very well on this trip, especially Jay Spearing and Stephen Darby," he told Liverpool’s official website.
"Hopefully that will continue. They don't need any advice from me; they are doing very well at the moment."
Another impressive performer during the pre-season so far is Spanish youngster Daniel Pacheco, who has earned mass plaudits since arriving on Merseyside from Barcelona last summer.
"Daniel Pacheco has looked very sharp - he is a class player and we are delighted to have him," Carragher continued.
"Hopefully he can go on and do it this season but, as I say, he is still a young player - you shouldn't forget that. Hopefully he will be a Liverpool boy for years to come."
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