Liverpool wonderkid finally joins preseason tour before Andoni Iraola chance
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Liverpool FC NewsFeaturesLiverpool FCLiverpool youngster Mor Talla Ndiaye has joined up with the squad in America for a pre-season tour, with the teenager one of many youngsters to be given the chance to impress Andoni IraolaMor Talla Ndiaye will join Liverpool on tour in AmericaLiverpool starlet Mor Talla Ndiaye has belatedly joined the rest of the squad in Chicago for the club's preseason tour of the United States.The 18-year-old was a surprise omission from Andoni Iraola's traveling squad earlier this week after being heavily involved in the early weeks of preseason training. However, there had been confidence the youngster would join his teammates later in the week, and he's now been pictured in training at the club's base in Chicago ahead of this weekend's friendly against Sunderland.It's a welcome boost for the new Liverpool head coach, whose center back options are threadbare as his squad ramps up preparations for the new campaign.
This comes after the departure of Ibrahima Konate as a free agent earlier in the summer, while captain Virgil van Dijk is not expected to play any part in the preseason tour as he enjoys an extended break following his involvement in the World Cup with the Netherlands.As things stand, the only senior center back options available to Iraola are summer arrival Jeremy Jacquet, who joined the Reds from French side Rennes, and Joe Gomez, who is currently the most experienced option at the head coach's disposal.Giovanni Leoni is among six injured players to have made the trip to the States, but he has yet to return to team training since suffering a devastating ACL injury on his debut for the club in a League Cup clash last September.The lack of options at center back is likely to provide a huge opportunity for Ndiaye, as well as fellow young defender Ifeanyi Ndukwe in the coming weeks.Ifeanyi Ndukwe will join Liverpool on tour before a likely loan exit(Image: Getty)Ndiaye, in particular, joined Liverpool from Senegalese side Amitie FC in January this year, shortly after his 18th birthday.The teenager has represented Senegal at various youth levels, including at the Under-17 World Cup last November in Qatar. He featured four times for his country as they reached the knockout stages of the tournament.Liverpool kicks off its preseason campaign on Saturday with a friendly against Premier League rivals Sunderland.The Reds will also face Wrexham and Leeds United while in the United States before returning to England for matches against Monaco and Como at Anfield.The Iraola era will officially begin on August 23 when Liverpool's Premier League campaign kicks off against Newcastle at St James' Park.The head coach's first competitive home game will then come against Nottingham Forest a week later on August 29.Choose Liverpool.com as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.Liverpool FC