At the start of the season no Liverpool fan would have marked Kevin Stewart a realistic first-team option, but the Englishman’s proved everyone wrong, despite being set back by injuries.
Against Stoke at the weekend, the 22-year-old made his first Premier League start and put in a mature, accomplished performance alongside Joe Allen in central midfield.
Stewart’s sensible passes found their targets, and while he gave a couple of his more ambitious ones away, his interceptions and tackles made up for it and earned applause from the Anfield crowd.
With Jordan Henderson likely out for the rest of the season, Stewart could get more chances to impress, mainly in the Premier League – whether or not we remain in Europe.