It'll be no shock for all Liverpool fans and supporters to hear that full back is an area that Liverpool need to, and have been looking to strengthen in, hence the advanced talks and potential medicals in place for Spanish youngsters Javier Manquillo and Alberto Moreno, who should they sign, will be looking to improve a team that came so close to actually winning the Barclays Premier League last time out. Glen Johnson, Jon Flanagan, Jose Enrique and other youngsters such as Jack Robinson and Martin Kelly are available, and whilst Ryan McLaughlin potential breakthrough has been talked about recently, young, English left back Brad Smith cannot be overlooked, especially seeing as though he is a player that has already made his professional first team debut, in the closing stages of the defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last December.
20 year old Smith is a full back with all the necessary attributes in his locker. He has lightning pace and loves nothing more than to involve himself in the keeping of possession, and the creating of opportunities. Furthermore, his defensive qualities cannot be questionned, and with Smith and McLaughlin at full back for the U31's, which has been the case for some time now, then goals conceded are kept at a minimum, and goals scored often included involvement from the pair.
Australian born Smith was handed his debut in the defeat to Jose Mourinho's Chelsea and with the red no.44 shirt, was brought on at left wing, a position many feel the full back can occupy with ease. As Smith failed to make an impression, many disregarded him as an important player for Brendan Rodgers for the remainder of the last season and many did so with respect to being an integral part of the club's overall future too. The general census was that he lacked confidence, struggled with the pace of the game and could not groove his performance to fit in with what the team were trying to do when atempting to rescue at least a point that night in London, which I for one feel is completely unfair, and hasn't appeared since.
Brad Smith has the talent to become Liverpool's first choice left back in the next 5 years or so; there's no doubt about that. Maybe loan spells at Championship or lesser Premier League sides are necessary to give him the experience of playing at the next level, or maybe just the odd appearance for Brendan Rodgers in a season where games are at a premium. Either way, I expect to see more of him, and so should you.