Sunday, September 13, 2009

Pellegrino Backs Insua Call-up Hopes

Mauricio Pellegrino has backed Emiliano Insua to achieve his dream of being called up by the Argentinean national team.

After breaking into the Liverpool first-team last season, the 20-year-old left-back has started all four of the Reds' matches so far this term.

Pellegrino has been delighted by the form of his compatriot - and believes there is much more to come.

"We are always thinking about whether a young player can be involved in the future because the gap between the reserves and the first-team is really thin," the Reds first-team coach told Liverpoolfc.tv.

"But it is difficult because to make this jump you require a lot of different circumstances for it to happen.

"You have to be ready and when Emiliano had the opportunity to play, his performances were really good.

"Now he is involved in more games and is playing almost every match.

"Emiliano will be a really important player in the future. He is young and can progress a lot. The best is yet to come from him, but now he is working hard and I am sure he will improve."

Asked if he felt Insua could soon make the step-up to international level for Argentina, Pellegrino replied: "Yes. Liverpool are a big club and everybody in Argentina follows the Premier League. A lot of people in Argentina are talking about Emiliano and I don't see any reason why not."

Insua's first-team berth could soon come under pressure from Fabio Aurelio, with the Brazilian defender edging ever closer to full fitness following injury.

Pellegrino admits having the services of the 29-year-old available again will be a boost to Liverpool.

He said: "It is amazing news for us because Fabio is a good professional, has a lot of quality and we need him and all of the players in the squad.

"He has suffered a lot this year and been unlucky with injuries, but he has been working until three or four o'clock in the afternoon each day because he wants to be ready.

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