Liverpool’s Keyrol Figueroa has had maybe a very powerful week of his profession but, as he seeks to comply with in his father’s footsteps to develop into a Premier League common.
Make no mistake, this meant quite a bit to Figueroa.
With a rain-soaked shirt sticking to his chest within the stormy environment of the Kirkby academy, Liverpool’s younger striker set free a roar after scoring the U21s’ third in opposition to Everton.
At first, the response could have appeared barely excessive. Nevertheless, upon talking to 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 together 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 state of affairs that’s been occurring with me not taking part in generally 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 harm and the highly-rated Will Wright arriving, he was left pondering his future over the summer time.
Nevertheless, accidents to the 2 predominant strikers have left Figueroa with an opportunity to make his mark – one thing he has actually achieved prior to now week.
An excellent 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 teenager explains: “The supervisor has given me a whole lot of perception in displaying my expertise and it’s a proud second.
“Once I got here in, I had a whole lot of completely 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 implausible 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 at all times 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 want earlier than the sport.”
Web page admits that it has been troublesome 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 incredible pre-season and possibly being the highest scorer within the pre-season,” the previous Wales boss says.
“So it’s exhausting for a participant, particularly a centre-forward, if you end up in a wealthy vein of type like he was after pre-season, and you then 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 incredible profession within the sport. He’s an incredible lad and we’ve received some good boys in there as properly.”
The affect of his father, Maynor Figueroa
As Web page mentions, Figueroa is at all times fast to credit score his dad and mom when requested in regards to the influential figures in his life.
He has beforehand described his father, Maynor Figueroa, who gained the FA Cup with Wigan and performed 181 occasions for Honduras, as his footballing idol.
“My dad has given me robust nights generally however that’s solely as a result of he is aware of I will be higher,” Keyrol reveals.
“As we speak, all my dad and mom have been right here, my household. Watching them seeing my efficiency is a proud second.
“Each time I scored I appeared again at them and celebrated, as a result of it wasn’t simply my win, it’s their as properly. It speaks for itself how a lot my household are vital to me.”
Impressed by Sturridge, Suarez and Harry Kane
Having represented the USA at U17s, U19s and now U20s degree as a result of him rising up there whereas his father performed within the MLS, Figueroa is a striker with loads of potential.
A pointy finisher and good together with his again to purpose, the attacker has huge ambition and makes use of a few of Liverpool’s greatest forwards as inspiration, having been on the membership since he was 12 years outdated.
He says: “I like being myself however I am going again to Liverpool again within the days when Daniel Sturridge was round – clearly I watched him [and] Luis Suarez.
“Moreover Liverpool, certainly one of my favorite strikers is Karim Benzema. Didier Drogba, Harry Kane as properly.
“I do know that Alex (Inglethorpe, academy director) used to work with [Kane], he used to at all times 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 could possibly 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.
