- Neil Critchley eager to see Bobby Adekanye find more consistency
- U23s boss praises winger after superb goal in win over Stoke
- Adekanye joined from Barcelona in 2015
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Neil Critchley is eager to see Bobby Adekanye find some consistency after his superb solo goal for Liverpool’s U23s on Sunday night.
The Dutchman added the finishing touches to a dominant 4-0 win for the Reds as he cut inside on his favoured left foot before finding the net with a crisp strike from the edge of the box.
It marked the latest reminder of the attacking flair that makes up the bulk of the glowing reputation he arrived with from Barcelona in summer 2015.
Injuries have served as a frustrating hindrance to one of the youth setup’s most enticing prospects, but Critchley is hopeful the teenager can capitalise on his improved form this season.
“Bobby is capable of that. The key for Bobby is staying fit and being fit. He is always capable of those moments and we see it in training and you have seen it on the pitch this last week. We’ve just got to see it more often and it’s about being more consistent,” Critchley told Liverpoolfc.com.
“Staying fit would help him because then we would have him on the pitch game after game and for longer periods of time, because there’s no doubt that when he is on his game he is a real handful.”
“He has improved a lot, his time at the club so far has been interrupted by injuries, but he has worked very hard on his game, especially out of possession as well, and I just hope that he stays fit now and we can all see what Bobby is really capable of. He is very exciting as a player and he’s a great lad as well.”
Adekanye’s goal at the weekend followed up his standout performance in the U19s’ UEFA Youth League triumph over Manchester United, which saw Steven Gerrard’s side book a quarter-final clash with Manchester City.
A Man of the Match display in October’s win over NK Maribor in the same competition saw Gerrard himself call on the former Ajax academy product to demonstrate his undoubted ability more regularly.
With his dazzling footwork and lightning pace, the potential is there for him to one day reap the benefits of Jurgen Klopp’s youth policy as multiple youngsters at the club have in recent years.