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James McConnell of Liverpool(Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Sometimes 90 minutes is all it takes, a single performance sufficient to convince a player merits their place.

And such has been the case for James McConnell with Liverpool boss Arne Slot.

The 20-year-old midfielder was perhaps the one surprise name in the starting line-up for the Champions League dead rubber at PSV Eindhoven last month, particularly when named ahead of Tyler Morton in midfield.

McConnell, though, grabbed his opportunity with both hands by delivering a man-of-the-match performance with a trademark busy outing during what became the first full match of his burgeoning senior career.

Indeed, he outshone the vastly-experienced Wataru Endo with the pair forming the base of Liverpool's engine room.

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And it was enough for Slot to declare shortly after the final whistle at the Philips Stadion that McConnell would be going nowhere ahead of the fast-approaching mid-season transfer deadline.

“He impressed me a lot," said the Liverpool boss.

Potential first-team opportunities in the League Cup were missed, while there have only been three outings for the under-21s.

But his subsequent regular showings in training have convinced Slot of his potential.

And seasoned Academy observers have long acknowledged the potential of the all-action McConnell ever since he broke into the under-18s side as a 16-year-old having arrived at Kirkby at U15 level from Sunderland.

His calling card was a fine strike on his first U18 Premier League North start that helped earn a 2-1 win at Stoke City in February 2021.

He even popped up on the left, from where he scored in the 4-0 derby win over Everton U18s.

McConnell's performances during 2022/23, when he was an important part of the Liverpool UEFA Youth League quarter-finals, earned him promotion to the first-team squad during the next pre-season preparations, after which he made his senior debut as a late substitute in the home Europa League win over Toulouse, made his Premier League bow late on against Brentford at Anfield and, on his FA Cup debut and first senior start, provided an assist in a beating of Norwich City.

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But the midfielder first came to wider prominence during the League Cup final win over Chelsea last February when, having replaced Alexis Mac Allister three minutes from the end of normal time, he outshone the expensively-assembled opposing midfielders during the extra time period to help Liverpool win 1-0.

It's perhaps worth bearing in mind McConnell - along with fellow youngsters Morton, Trey Nyoni and Rio Ngumoha - hasn't featured at all in the Premier League this season, Slot instead using the cup competitions to give youth a chance.

And McConnell has shown himself adept at grasping such opportunities.
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