Why Liverpool Academy Star Harry Wilson Is the Natural Heir to Harry Kewell

We're running an Inside Liverpool's Academy week here on Bleacher Report, with Day One seeing a Q&A with Jordan Rossiter and looking at the top five Academy prospects at the club. Day two sees us speak with youngster Yan Dhanda—and now look at one of those five hottest prospects, Harry Wilson.

Harry Wilson is only 17 years of age, but he's already making good ground toward having a professional career: he's seen as one of the Reds' brightest youngsters, he has trained with the senior players and is already a full international with Wales.

A talented wide forward, Wilson will be hoping to make his debut at some point during the 2014-15 season, so what can Liverpool fans expect from him? He may well remind them of a former player, one who started superbly before injuries halted what might have been great progress: Australian wide man Harry Kewell.

Similar Traits

Wide players, keen attackers, left-footed, luxurious hair, both called Harry: It's easy to make the stretch from Wilson to Kewell, but the similarities aren't just at surface level. Plus, Kewell went crew-cut in the end anyway.

Lots of supporters will remember Kewell as he was when he left the club, but that version of the player was very different to the one which arrived from Leeds United. Broken and irreparably damaged by injury then, Kewell started out as a dynamic, direct threat from the channels who could go either way past defenders, had great acceleration and looked to get a shot away quickly.

Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

Kewell was a more natural left-sided player before joining the Reds, though he was soon moved right under Gerard Houllier. Rafael Benitez later played him centrally behind a striker.

For Wilson, it's perhaps a natural sign of football a decade later that he plays most frequently from his opposite side, starting wide right and looking to cut in onto his stronger foot. He's similar to Kewell, though, in that he will look to run straight at defenders, has great technique to his game and wants to get into shooting positions.

Small but Strong

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Like Raheem Sterling, Wilson is a smaller player who has surprising strength and tends not to be worried about going up against bigger defenders than he is.

Speaking to Michael Sweeting, who watches and writes on Liverpool academy teams, Wilson was described as "feisty."

"Wilson is not particularly good in the air, but he's cunning and clever in possession. I'd also say Wilson is a feisty player; he's a small guy but will not succumb to intimidation. I saw him the other week playing against Manchester City U21s and he went head-to-knee with City's massive defenders who were also a few years older. He's definitely got a healthy anger in him."

Such self-belief and aggression will of course be necessary when Wilson does finally get his chance to make the step up, as senior defenders will not hesitate to put a few "welcoming" challenges into a youngster who looks as though they might cause them problems.

Along with that physical determination, Wilson has terrific acceleration and often looks to run as soon as the ball is under control. He'll target space, look to make things happen in the final third and can be a catalyst for chances to be created through the sheer panic he inflicts on restructuring defences.

Future

Still a young teen, Wilson has time on his side to learn the game further and develop the tactical side of his play.

He has most recently been shifted central into a No. 10 position to increase his awareness of how to use space and attack more efficiently, while also searching for more end product to his game. The shift to this role is similar to that which Sterling and Jordon Ibe have been subjected to, to the benefit of both.

"

Seyi Ojo, Harry Wilson and Jordan Williams part of the LFC squad training at Anfield tonight. pic.twitter.com/6CnpUMhwyC

— This Is Anfield (@thisisanfield) December 8, 2014"

Wilson's debut may or may not come this season, but he certainly looks to have the quality and the style of play to excite supporters when he eventually gets his chance. And if he can at some point match the impact that Kewell had in his initial six months on Merseyside, he'll be a massive success for the club's academy indeed.

With thanks to Michael Sweeting. Comments obtained firsthand.

Follow @karlmatchett