It wasn’t difficult to work out what brought England boss Fabio Capello to Anfield on Thursday night.
With Steven Gerrard and Glen Johnson ruled out through injury, there were only two Englishmen lining up against Sparta Prague.
It’s highly unlikely Capello had been lured up north by the chance to run the rule over Joe Cole.
After all the midfielder has only recently regained fitness and has produced nothing in a red shirt over the past seven months to warrant adding to his 56 caps.
Cole will need to start holding down a place in the Liverpool side before his country come calling again.
Capello undoubtedly took his seat in the directors’ box to cast his eye over Martin Kelly and the young defender ensured his trip was worthwhile.
The 20-year-old from Whiston has been a revelation this season.
Kelly is already an under-21 international and senior honours can’t be far away.
Over the past decade Liverpool fans have longed for a homegrown talent to follow in the footsteps of Gerrard and Jamie Carragher. Someone capable of ensuring the side still possesses a Scouse heartbeat after those two loyal servants have hung up their boots.
Academy graduate Kelly looks capable of carrying the mantle.
The presence of the woeful Paul Konchesky limited his chances under Roy Hodgson earlier in the season. Ten of his 12 starts before Christmas came in either the Carling Cup or Europa League.
Many players have flourished under Kenny Dalglish over the past seven weeks but none more so than Kelly.
Since being handed a starting spot for the FA Cup tie at Old Trafford in Dalglish’s first game at the helm he hasn’t looked back. The boss’ faith in him has been emphatically rewarded.
Such has been his impact that England’s first choice right-back Glen Johnson has found himself shifted out to the left. It might not only be his Reds spot which Kelly takes from the £18million man.
Starting nine out of 10 games under Dalglish, he’s been a model of consistency and is now one of the first names down on the manager’s team sheet.
During the opening 45 minutes against Sparta on Thursday night he was Liverpool’s standout performer.
He made one crucial defensive interception but it’s his attacking qualities which are earning him rave reviews.
At 6ft 3ins, Kelly is a tall and strong but also a great athlete and packs an impressive turn of pace. Carragher is one of the youngster’s biggest fans and recently described him as “turbo charged”.
Sparta couldn’t handle him and but for some woeful finishing Kelly’s quality from wide areas would have helped kill off the tie.
A twinge in his leg forced him off at the break and he was sorely missed in the second half as Liverpool toiled in search of a breakthrough.
Kelly’s enthusiasm and determination to impress is clear. That burning desire to succeed has been crucial because progress hasn’t been plain sailing.
As a teenager in the youth team he missed two years of football due to back problems prior to his promotion from the academy to Melwood in 2007.
His eye-catching full debut against Lyon in October 2009 ended with him limping off. Injuries have hampered him but Kelly has kept fighting.
Being short listed for the PFA Young Player of the Year award and getting a call from Capello ahead of next month’s clash with Wales would be just reward for a youngster with a big future.
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