Not for the first time there is genuine excitement surrounding a Jamaican-born winger at Liverpool. Twenty-four years ago it was John Barnes who electrified the Kop under Kenny Dalglish. With the Scot back in charge, history could be about to repeat itself with Raheem Sterling.
The 16-year-old has risen to national prominence on the back of his interventions in last Monday's FA Youth Cup quarter-final against Southend at Anfield. From the left-wing he scored five times as he terrorised his hapless right back time and again in a 9-0 win.
The performance preceded a maiden call to the competitive first-team squad. Liverpool played Sparta Prague in the Europa League on Thursday and Sterling made the trip. He was eligible to do so only because he was on school holidays and would have become the Reds' youngest player had he featured. While he did not make the bench but he still has about three months to break that record.
Dalglish revealed that Sterling's FA Youth Cup display had no bearing on his selection for the away game in the Czech Republic and that he had been keeping a keen eye on the player for quite a while.
A fast, direct wide-man in the mould of Aaron Lennon and Arjen Robben, Sterling joined Liverpool a year ago from west London side Queens Park Rangers, where he had proved himself to be an outstanding prospect in the club's under-age system.
QPR's head of youth development Steve Gallen admits: "We always knew he was good. He had many nicknames when he played for us. One of them was simply 'The Magician'. Another was 'Raheem Park Rangers' because sometimes he would carry the team on his own.
"I moved him up to the Under 16s when he was 14 and he was the best player on the pitch. He came on as a sub against Millwall and there was this long ball from the goalkeeper. He watched it drop over his shoulder and volleyed it straight into the top corner. I was glad no scouts were there that day. This became normal.
"His ability is frightening. Balance, speed, awareness. No-one I've ever seen compares to him. He's a fantastic player and I really hope he does well."
Bright future| 16 year-old Raheem SterlingThe Reds paid only a nominal fee for Sterling, around £600,000, because he had not signed professional terms for the Hoops. The player was eager to move on to Academy surroundings and Liverpool could cater for his needs. His fee could eventually rise as high as £5m depending on his performances on Merseyside.
Sterling made an immediate impression, netting on his under-18 debut against Everton. He followed that up with an appearance with the senior squad in pre-season. Departed coach Roy Hodgson saw fit to include him for a friendly against Borussia Moenchengladbach.
Dalglish is keen to dampen the hype around Liverpool's new jewel. Speaking after calling Sterling, along with fellow academy attendees Tom Ince, Conor Coady and John Flanagan into the first-team picture, Dalglish told reporters: "You've got to be very, very responsible when you're talking about Raheem. It's fantastic for him to be involved as it is for the three other lads.
"Obviously Tom Ince has been involved before but for the four lads from the youth team it's a fantastic occasion.
"We want to make sure they feel part and parcel of the football club. They are here because they deserve to be here and maybe because of the injuries we've got at the moment it dictates that they are here.
"They've done very well but none of them will be carried away with the result the other night in the Youth Cup."
With Sterling's potential having gone viral it may prove difficult to keep him under wraps.
The 16-year-old has risen to national prominence on the back of his interventions in last Monday's FA Youth Cup quarter-final against Southend at Anfield. From the left-wing he scored five times as he terrorised his hapless right back time and again in a 9-0 win.
The performance preceded a maiden call to the competitive first-team squad. Liverpool played Sparta Prague in the Europa League on Thursday and Sterling made the trip. He was eligible to do so only because he was on school holidays and would have become the Reds' youngest player had he featured. While he did not make the bench but he still has about three months to break that record.
Dalglish revealed that Sterling's FA Youth Cup display had no bearing on his selection for the away game in the Czech Republic and that he had been keeping a keen eye on the player for quite a while.
A fast, direct wide-man in the mould of Aaron Lennon and Arjen Robben, Sterling joined Liverpool a year ago from west London side Queens Park Rangers, where he had proved himself to be an outstanding prospect in the club's under-age system.
QPR's head of youth development Steve Gallen admits: "We always knew he was good. He had many nicknames when he played for us. One of them was simply 'The Magician'. Another was 'Raheem Park Rangers' because sometimes he would carry the team on his own.
"I moved him up to the Under 16s when he was 14 and he was the best player on the pitch. He came on as a sub against Millwall and there was this long ball from the goalkeeper. He watched it drop over his shoulder and volleyed it straight into the top corner. I was glad no scouts were there that day. This became normal.
"His ability is frightening. Balance, speed, awareness. No-one I've ever seen compares to him. He's a fantastic player and I really hope he does well."
Bright future| 16 year-old Raheem Sterling
Sterling made an immediate impression, netting on his under-18 debut against Everton. He followed that up with an appearance with the senior squad in pre-season. Departed coach Roy Hodgson saw fit to include him for a friendly against Borussia Moenchengladbach.
Dalglish is keen to dampen the hype around Liverpool's new jewel. Speaking after calling Sterling, along with fellow academy attendees Tom Ince, Conor Coady and John Flanagan into the first-team picture, Dalglish told reporters: "You've got to be very, very responsible when you're talking about Raheem. It's fantastic for him to be involved as it is for the three other lads.
"Obviously Tom Ince has been involved before but for the four lads from the youth team it's a fantastic occasion.
"We want to make sure they feel part and parcel of the football club. They are here because they deserve to be here and maybe because of the injuries we've got at the moment it dictates that they are here.
"They've done very well but none of them will be carried away with the result the other night in the Youth Cup."
With Sterling's potential having gone viral it may prove difficult to keep him under wraps.
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