Is Striker Jack Dunn Capable of Making the Grade at Liverpool?

Whenever a new manager arrives at a football club, the appointment gives players on the periphery of the squad renewed optimism in their pursuit of first-team football.

This is especially the case when a new man is appointed mid-season and is therefore unable to immediately turn to the transfer window for help in bringing in new players.

In the case of Jurgen Klopp, arriving at Liverpool merely two months into the new campaign and three months short of the January transfer window, the new Reds boss has explored his options with regards to bulking up his injury-decimated squad this winter.

Academy right-back Connor Randall was handed his debut against Bournemouth in the League Cup, while Klopp explained that he is exploring options towards recalling some of the 17 loaned players at the club.

Two of those, winger Ryan Kent and full-back Ryan McLaughlin (on loan to Coventry City and Aberdeen respectively), were temporarily recalled during the recent international break so Klopp could take a look at them first hand at Melwood.

Each player has been handed a fresh start, and Klopp is keen to cast his eye himself and afford opportunities to those who may previously have been overlooked.

This approach means players who have struggled to make the breakthrough in recent years will have renewed hope under the new boss.

Two of those such players are young strikers Samed Yesil, currently on loan to FC Luzern, and Jack Dunn.

"When I heard that he was coach I thought 'oh how cool'," said Klopp's 21-year-old compatriot Yesil, per Bild (h/t the Liverpool Echo) this week. "He is known to rely on young players."

Team-mate Dunn told the official Liverpool website:

"

Since the manager has come in there has been a lot of positivity around the club. There is a new opportunity for the younger lads and it has given everyone a massive boost.

He seems terrific. He is very interactive with the young lads and he is trying to get to know all of us. I can’t wait to work with him.

"

So could Dunn finally get his chance at Liverpool under Klopp?

Dunn

Dunn is a versatile attacker who made his first appearance for Liverpool's first team in a post-season friendly against Shamrock Rovers in May 2014, coming off the bench in that match and scoring a well-taken goal.

But that non-competitive appearance aside, he never came close to making a first-team appearance under Brendan Rodgers.

Last season he spent time on loan in League Two with Cheltenham Town and Burton Albion. He scored an impressive three goals in five appearances with Cheltenham during a month-loan in January—not bad for his first professional games. But opportunities at Burton later in the season were more limited, and he made just one substitute appearance and didn't feature in the squad for the other six games he was eligible for.

Quite why Liverpool have this constant habit of loaning players to Football League sides that aren't actually going to play them is baffling, and it's a trend that has continued this season. It's one that Klopp has hinted at changing, saying last month, per the Mirror: "Maybe we need to cool down the situation a little bit, hold on to these guys longer and let them play in our second team and develop as a team."

Dunn is one of the few Liverpool under-21 players who hasn't been loaned out this season, with a niggling hamstring injury ruling him out until recently.

The Liverpudlian came through the youth ranks as more of a midfielder but is now operating in the No. 9 role for the Reds' under-21s. He's also physically bulked up and looks stronger for it.

"

Jack Dunn has bulked up so much this season. Got a Shaqiri physique right now.

— Jack Lusby (@jacklusby_) November 24, 2015"

Dunn featured as a substitute in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Wolverhampton Wanderers during the international break earlier this month and has started all the under-21 games since.

Having turned 21 years old this month, however, Dunn must now move on from academy football and find first-team football. He's highly likely to be loaned to a Football League side later in the campaign, and hopefully he will be played regularly and takes his opportunity.

Slim Chance

With the plethora of attacking options available to Klopp in his first-team squad, Dunn will have to go out on loan to get a first-team chance.

With attackers Christian Benteke, Daniel Sturridge, Roberto Firmino, Divock Origi, Adam Lallana, Jordon Ibe, James Milner and Philippe Coutinho all available, it's difficult to see Klopp having to turn to the likes of Dunn any time soon.

Carlos Rodrigues/Getty Images

Indeed, under-21 striker Jerome Sinclair, another who has struggled with injuries this campaign, is far more likely to get an opportunity than Dunn. Sinclair was named on the bench for Klopp's opening game in charge at Tottenham Hotspur, when the manager's attacking options were severely restricted due to injuries.

Even with the continued injury issues of Sturridge, it's unlikely Klopp will be forced to turn to his youth options quite yet.

History

While Liverpool produced the attacking talents of Robbie Fowler and Michael Owen from their academy in the 1990s, history since then has shown it's not so easy to produce first-team-ready forwards.

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

In recent years, youngsters Nathan Eccleston and Adam Morgan both made their first-team debuts before being moved on, while Michael Ngoo and David Amoo never made their debuts for the club.

Others to have tried and failed to make the grade over the last decade include Kristzian Nemeth, Gerardo Bruna, Lauri Dalla Valle and Kristoffer Peterson.

Perhaps this is part of the reason the club have cut their academy numbers recently, with a renewed approach in the search of quality not quantity.

Future

Now aged 21, Dunn has his work cut out to make the grade at Liverpool. As one of the most hard-working youngsters at the club, however, if he can remain injury-free, he could force his way ahead of Sinclair in the pecking order.

A loan spell to a team that will give him regular playing time would certainly do his chances a world of good and could lead to involvement in pre-season—where Klopp will be without most of his first-team forwards due to Copa America and UEFA Euro 2016 involvement.

The likelihood is, though, that Dunn will end up moving on more akin to Morgan, who left the club on a free transfer to join Yeovil Town last January before moving to League Two Accrington Stanley in the summer.

As a versatile attacker, Dunn should end up having a good career away from Anfield.

All performance data via Transfermarkt.