Calliste offers encouragement to Wales and Liverpool


The Welsh youngster who has caught the eye of the Liverpool manager, Rafael Benitez, received lavish praise from the Wales Under-21 manager, Brian Flynn, after the impressive 3-0 win over Azerbaijan in Newport on Tuesday.


Ramon Calliste was released by Manchester United in the summer and, to the surprise of many, was given a second chance of making the Premiership grade by the European Champions.


And although the 19-year-old did not score in the wind and rain-swept European Championship qualifier, his performance was the key to Wales' victory.


Flynn, who insists Calliste was even better last Friday in the 4-0 defeat in Germany, said of the Cardiff-born striker:

"Ramon did very well in Germany against a very good side, and now he has played equally as well in this one. That's two games on the trot now for us in which he has performed at a very high level.
"He didn't get a goal but he produced a superb piece of magic on the line to set up the third and he could easily have had two or three.
"I have certainly been pleased with both of his performances this past few days. He was playing on his own up front but gave them a lot of problems.
"He is still only 19 and he has another two years with us. He's been at Manchester United and now at Liverpool, where he has raw talent that they are clearly working on.
"It is a great opportunity there for him and he is now producing good team play rather than just individual talent. He has pace, control and movement and the team play he is getting into his game hits the nail on the head as to why he has improved."

Follow up:

Calliste caused Azerbaijan constant problems with his movement and pace, with Mark Pritchard, Mark Birchall and Peter Gilbert scoring the second-half goals.


Said Calliste:

The move here did come as a surprise but I believe in my ability and this is a chance I'm determined to seize. I'm very grateful to Liverpool for giving me this chance and I aim to repay them by giving it my best at all times.
My hopes for this season are to play as many games as possible for the reserves and score as many goals as I can. If I do that then maybe there'll be a chance for me to break into the first team for matches in the League Cup, like a lot of the younger lads did here last season

Source: The Independent