Mapping the Rise of Liverpool and Wales Starlet Harry Wilson

On Tuesday, 16th October 2013, the Welsh national team gave a debut international cap to 16-year-old Liverpool youngster Harry Wilson.

Wilson is a very talented winger with a bright future, and seemingly, the world at his feet. Some have even gone as far as to compare him with £85 million man, Gareth Bale and a young Ryan Giggs.

But let’s not overhype this any more than the situation that it actually is.

Wales have jumped ahead to give Wilson his first cap, which plainly and simply stops England ever getting their hands him.

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Great moment for me personally tonight, would like to thank everyone for the support and all the kind messages!🙏

— harry wilson (@harrywilson_) October 15, 2013"

Don’t expect him to be in the next Wales squad.

That’s why he played three minutes at the end of a very long and unsuccessful qualifying campaign for the Welsh – and no more.

But that doesn’t mean Wilson doesn’t have an exciting future ahead, both for Wales and Liverpool.

Having moved to Merseyside from North Wales to join Liverpool’s Academy in 2005, Wilson made his debut for Liverpool’s Under-18s in February this year.

Since then he has been a regular face in the Reds’ Under-18 line-up and even impressed to get a substitute’s appearance in the Under-21s game against Southampton earlier this season.

This Is Anfield’s Michael Sweeting writes of Wilson:

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Wilson plays mainly from the right wing although he easily interchanges between left and right, forming a nice relationship with the equally impressive Ryan Kent. He is extremely quick, has fantastic technique and an eye for goal. Liverpool fans may recall him beating Seyi Ojo and Ryan Kent to the title of ‘King of the Academy’ over a series of drills filmed for Soccer AM in August.

"

Wilson exploits his pace on teams he faces, finding space down the right wing and progressing Liverpool’s attacks. Whilst he is still slight on the physical side, he has plenty of time to mature into a player fit for the first team.

Indeed, his style of play, exploding forward on both the counter-attack and high pressure would suit Liverpool’s style of play right now, if only this was 2017.