Liverpool ace has handed the Wales U21s call-up with the boss confident he would snub England
WALES are confident Liverpool rising star Lewis Koumas will not switch his allegiance to England.
The uncapped 18-year-old impressed on his debut for Jurgen Klopp’s quadruple chasing side, scoring in the FA Cup fifth round against Southampton at Anfield.
3
Promising Koumas, son of Wales midfielder Jason, was born in Chester and qualifies for the Three Lions but has been called up to the Welsh U21s for the first time.
And U21s boss Matty Jones has no fears that Koumas could make the move from the Dragons after four visits to Liverpool.
Asked whether Jones was confident Koumas would commit to Wales, the ex-Leeds and Leicester midfielder, 43, said: “Absolutely. I’ve always had confidence in our young Welsh boys because when they have those experiences initially, they connect.
“The relationships we’ve built, the due diligence we’ve done over the last six to eight weeks. I’ve had four visits to Liverpool and watched his performance.
“I sat and had lunch with him, to understand him as a person. To know how best to manage him, what drives him and also what threats and capabilities he can pose to us as a team.
“He is blending in with the Liverpool first-team players and excelling. We need to take advantage of his confidence and let him work his way into the group very patiently. We will assess that when he comes into camp, in terms of how he settles develops.”
Jones, whose side play Lithuania in the European Under-21 Championship qualifier next Friday, played for Wales alongside Koumas – just as he did with Robbie Savage, whose son Charlie has also come through Wales’ youth academy.
Jones added: “It’s an internal joke. Just look up former teammates and see if their sons are playing!
CHELTENHAM BETTING OFFERS – BEST FREE BETTS FOR THE FESTIVAL
“Jason has been excellent. We haven’t been in touch for a number of years but I have seen him since I went to Liverpool and kept an eye on Lewis.
“It was quite fun because you get more insight into what Lewis stands for: his temperament, character, personality and weaknesses.
“I got that from the club, from Lewis too honestly and also from his father. Jason has spoken about holding Lewis back from international experiences in younger years so he could concentrate on his domestic football. He’s a very ambitious young man .” player and it’s no surprise why he excels.
“I like the way Liverpool manage him, that model of putting players back in their own age group. He scores hat-tricks in the 18s and he dominates, which gives him enormous confidence in his performance.”
“He plays in 21s football at Liverpool and it is an opportunity for him to discover and express his abilities. The taste he has had of senior exposure – he has trained quite regularly with the first team – took him to the next level. They love him.
“Everyone I’ve spoken to at Liverpool likes his confidence and his ability to drive and run at people. He only comes alive when the ball is at his feet, but like any young player his There are a lot of areas for development. It’s my job now to polish those edges when he comes in and meet those expectations.”
3
Wales boss Rob Page resisted the urge to include Koumas in his first-team squad but hinted he could train with his squad in the international squad.
Page said: “He’s doing really well at Liverpool and he’s on the right track. We work very closely with Matty and the Under-21s.
“When he is at camp there may be times when we take him for training and introduce him that way. But what he needs to concentrate on is enjoying his football and developing as he is.”
“The rest will take care of itself. It is inevitable (that he will join us) at the right time. I have shown in the past that if I see a young boy with potential, I will raise him and he will be part from the first team.”