Liverpool’s Keyrol Figueroa has had maybe crucial week of his profession but, as he seeks to comply with in his father’s footsteps to turn out to be a Premier League common.
Make no mistake, this meant so much to Figueroa.
With a rain-soaked shirt sticking to his chest within the stormy environment of the Kirkby academy, Liverpool’s younger striker let loose a roar after scoring the U21s’ third towards Everton.
At first, the response might have appeared barely excessive. Nonetheless, upon chatting with Figueroa after his mini-derby hat-trick, it turns into obvious this had been a cry fashioned from life on the periphery.
A humble determine, the 19-year-old beams along with his match ball as he declares the day “a proud second” and receives congratulations from Trey Nyoni, who has come throughout from the primary workforce to look at.
Whereas his expertise is clear, Figueroa’s path so far in his younger profession hasn’t been all plain crusing.
“It’s been exhausting, particularly with the scenario that’s been occurring with me not taking part in typically and it’s questionable what my future’s going to be like,” the ahead tells This Is Anfield.
“However I take each second in my stride and I’m so proud that I received this second and the chance.”
The beneficiary from accidents
Figueroa began solely 4 U21s league matches final season, scoring simply two objectives in all competitions.
With Jayden Danns coming back from damage and the highly-rated Will Wright arriving, he was left pondering his future over the summer time.
Nonetheless, accidents to the 2 fundamental strikers have left Figueroa with an opportunity to make his mark – one thing he has definitely completed previously week.
A great efficiency in Liverpool U19s’ 5-4 win over Eintracht Frankfurt was adopted by a derby hat-trick because the younger Reds beat Everton 4-1 on Sunday.
On Wednesday he was named within the first-team squad for the primary time in any capability for the Carabao Cup defeat to Crystal Palace.
New U21s head coach Rob Web page has boosted Figueroa’s confidence significantly, because the teen explains: “The supervisor has given me plenty of perception in exhibiting my expertise and it’s a proud second.
“After I got here in, I had plenty of totally different options that I wanted and Rob gave me them.
“He has seen my potential and he spoke to me and mentioned that I’m good on the ball, I’m a unbelievable striker, we’ll have everybody else work for that, and simply get your self within the field and be that deadly, ruthless No. 9.
“He all the time says within the conferences about having vitality, being disciplined and being ruthless. These are his core anchors and he tells us on a regular basis that’s what we’d like earlier than the sport.”
Web page admits that it has been tough for Figueroa who has needed to await his likelihood.
“[Danns took his spot] in the beginning of the season off the again of Figgy having an amazing pre-season and doubtless being the highest scorer within the pre-season,” the previous Wales boss says.
“So it’s exhausting for a participant, particularly a centre-forward, when you find yourself in a wealthy vein of type like he was after pre-season, and then you definately don’t get the jersey to start out the season.
“All I can say to that’s his response has been exemplary. Even now, he’s crediting the opposite gamers and his dad and mom for his hat-trick. He’s such a humble man and that’s what you wish to work with.
“Due to that, he has received an opportunity of creating an amazing profession within the recreation. He’s an amazing lad and we have now received some good boys in there as nicely.”
The affect of his father, Maynor Figueroa
As Web page mentions, Figueroa is all the time fast to credit score his dad and mom when requested concerning the influential figures in his life.
He has beforehand described his father, Maynor Figueroa, who received the FA Cup with Wigan and performed 181 occasions for Honduras, as his footballing idol.
“My dad has given me robust nights typically however that’s solely as a result of he is aware of I will be higher,” Keyrol reveals.
“At this time, all my dad and mom had been right here, my household. Watching them seeing my efficiency is a proud second.
“Each time I scored I regarded again at them and celebrated, as a result of it wasn’t simply my win, it’s their as nicely. It speaks for itself how a lot my household are necessary to me.”
Impressed by Sturridge, Suarez and Harry Kane
Having represented the USA at U17s, U19s and now U20s stage attributable to him rising up there whereas his father performed within the MLS, Figueroa is a striker with loads of potential.
A pointy finisher and good along with his again to objective, the attacker has huge ambition and makes use of a few of Liverpool’s finest forwards as inspiration, having been on the membership since he was 12 years previous.
He says: “I like being myself however I’m going again to Liverpool again within the days when Daniel Sturridge was round – clearly I watched him [and] Luis Suarez.
“In addition to Liverpool, considered one of my favorite strikers is Karim Benzema. Didier Drogba, Harry Kane as nicely.
“I do know that Alex (Inglethorpe, academy director) used to work with [Kane], he used to all the time give me recommendations on that so I simply tackle info because it goes.”
The heights that his idols reached are nonetheless a way off for Figueroa, however this previous week might be a key rung on the ladder as he makes an attempt to draw consideration for a first-team call-up or January mortgage transfer.
