Jamie Carragher reckons that Liverpool could soon have another Spanish star spearheading their attack.
With Torres still on holiday last week after netting the goal that secured Spain victory in the European Championship finals earlier in the month, manager Rafael Benitez handed his number nine jersey to compatriot Danny Pacheco for the 0-0 draw with Hertha Berlin at the Olympiastadion.
The 17-year-old, who was signed from Barcelona last summer following an increasing trend of Spanish youth players who can sign professional contracts in England at a younger age than in their homeland, has impressed Carragher throughout Liverpool’s pre-season campaign to date and he believes that the diminutive frontman could soon be making an impact around the first team squad for competitive matches.
Carragher said: “Danny Pacheco was as good as anyone on the trip, he’s been superb.
“He’s always looked like a great one for the future but we might not have to wait too long because the way he’s playing he looks like he could be a great one for right now.”
Also in action in Germany were fellow youngsters Stephen Darby and Jay Spearing and as someone who has come through the ranks at Anfield, Carragher knows the challenge they are facing.
He said: “I think the young lads have done superbly so far.
“We’ve all been there as a young lad when you’re probably a bit shy knocking around with the first team but they’ve all come in and haven’t been overawed by it all and I think they’ve impressed all of us.
“Jay and Stephen have both stepped up from the reserves and done really well.
“They’ve all been good and it’s nice for everyone at the club to see young players come into the team during pre-season and give a good account of themselves.
“We all know what it’s like when you come through as a young player and you just want to impress the manager on the training pitch and in matches and I think they will have done that.
“Now they have to keep on working hard and looking to get better so that they can give themselves as a good a chance as they possibly can.”
Bootle-born Carragher is also pleased that Spearing and Darby’s breakthrough to the first team squad has seen another couple of fellow Merseysiders to try and grab their chance.
He said: “I’m desperate for young players to come through, especially young Scouse lads, and I think the ones who’ve been involved so far have definitely shown what they can do.
“When you come away the pre-season training sessions are really important for the young players because you’re in the manager’s face all the time and that gives you a chance to impress him as much as you can.
“Going back to when I first came into the side I knew I had to treat training just like a match if I was going to impress the manager and that’s certainly what the likes of Darby and Spearing have been doing.”
With Torres still on holiday last week after netting the goal that secured Spain victory in the European Championship finals earlier in the month, manager Rafael Benitez handed his number nine jersey to compatriot Danny Pacheco for the 0-0 draw with Hertha Berlin at the Olympiastadion.
The 17-year-old, who was signed from Barcelona last summer following an increasing trend of Spanish youth players who can sign professional contracts in England at a younger age than in their homeland, has impressed Carragher throughout Liverpool’s pre-season campaign to date and he believes that the diminutive frontman could soon be making an impact around the first team squad for competitive matches.
Carragher said: “Danny Pacheco was as good as anyone on the trip, he’s been superb.
“He’s always looked like a great one for the future but we might not have to wait too long because the way he’s playing he looks like he could be a great one for right now.”
Also in action in Germany were fellow youngsters Stephen Darby and Jay Spearing and as someone who has come through the ranks at Anfield, Carragher knows the challenge they are facing.
He said: “I think the young lads have done superbly so far.
“We’ve all been there as a young lad when you’re probably a bit shy knocking around with the first team but they’ve all come in and haven’t been overawed by it all and I think they’ve impressed all of us.
“Jay and Stephen have both stepped up from the reserves and done really well.
“They’ve all been good and it’s nice for everyone at the club to see young players come into the team during pre-season and give a good account of themselves.
“We all know what it’s like when you come through as a young player and you just want to impress the manager on the training pitch and in matches and I think they will have done that.
“Now they have to keep on working hard and looking to get better so that they can give themselves as a good a chance as they possibly can.”
Bootle-born Carragher is also pleased that Spearing and Darby’s breakthrough to the first team squad has seen another couple of fellow Merseysiders to try and grab their chance.
He said: “I’m desperate for young players to come through, especially young Scouse lads, and I think the ones who’ve been involved so far have definitely shown what they can do.
“When you come away the pre-season training sessions are really important for the young players because you’re in the manager’s face all the time and that gives you a chance to impress him as much as you can.
“Going back to when I first came into the side I knew I had to treat training just like a match if I was going to impress the manager and that’s certainly what the likes of Darby and Spearing have been doing.”
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