'Excellent' Liverpool academy youngster continues to look like a future first-team star in defence - opinion

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As Liverpool prepare for the summer exit of Andy Robertson, they will already be making plans for who can replace him in the first-team.The question of which player could succeed the legendary Scot is a different one from last year, when the Reds were searching for a new regular starter at left-back.Milos Kerkez has since answered that emphatically, proving himself capable of being Liverpool‘s first-choice left-back hopefully for years to come. CHANGE MY MIND: Liverpool will drop points vs West Ham if Wirtz doesn’t play 👀 He's our most important player right now, not Szoboszlai Photo by Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Getty Images This time, with Robertson highly likely to leave upon the expiry of his contract this summer, Liverpool are instead looking to find themselves a back-up to Kerkez.They have options in this regard, with Kostas Tsimikas returning to the club and the likes of Luke Chambers and Callum Scanlon potential options from within.

But while all are worth considering, 19-year-old Clae Ewing is beginning to stand out as having a genuine chance of stepping up.Clae Ewing looks a class above for U21sThere was some surprise recently when Arne Slot called Ewing up for senior training despite having both Kerkez and Robertson available. But with Chambers and Scanlon away on loan, the teenager has a unique chance to make his mark on Slot.On Wednesday, LFCTV’s ‘Inside Training’ video featured the U21s, and showed that Ewing has returned to training with his peers for now.

However, the left-back looked calm, assured and a cut above many of his teammates in the clips.Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty ImagesREAD MORE: Noah Adekoya is quietly making a name for himself at Liverpool and could soon join the first-teamPhysically imposing and clearly comfortable on the ball, Ewing looks ready to be tested in men’s football.Clearly on Slot’s radar already, that will hopefully lead to an opportunity during pre-season, when the full-back could make further steps towards the senior squad.U21s coach Rob Page has called Ewing ‘excellent‘ this season, and as Liverpool look to fully move on from Robertson, he is as good an option as any to step into the back-up breach. Credit: George Wood/Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Getty Images No need for Liverpool to make a signingWith everything Liverpool are likely to need in the transfer market this summer, signing a new back-up left-back should not be on their list.In Ewing, Chambers and Scanlon – as well as the currently injured Owen Beck – the Reds have a number of young players who are well worth taking a further look at.The quartet could even share back-up duties heading into the season, and Slot can then assess which of them has the best chance of being a permanent fixture in the squad.Tsimikas is still around too, but the Greek should perhaps be seen as a player who can make Liverpool a little extra cash with one year left on his contract.Chambers is doing well on-loan at Charlton, while Scanlon is finding his feet at Cardiff after a long time out injured.