Has Raheem Sterling played himself into Liverpool's first team plans?

For all the talk of talented youngster Raheem Sterling going out on loan, or even sold, there is not a chance.

The teenager is one of - if not the- most exciting prospect at Liverpool right now, and even though he is only 17 he is already making his mark.

He featured in the club's NextGen Series campaign last season, which saw the club claim a creditable third place. He then ended the season with a couple of cameo performances in the Premier League, but Kenny Dalglish was reluctant to rush him in any further.

When he came on against Wigan in a 2-1 defeat at Anfield, many felt his direct running more of a threat than Stewart Downing provided all season.

Under new manager Brendan Rodgers, Sterling has been handed opportunities in pre-season, and it is fair to say he has taken them.

A goal after just two minutes in the club's final friendly against Leverkusen, cutting in from the left onto his right foot and curling a perfect strike into to the corner of the net.

How this translates when the season proper begins is another matter. So often young players shine in pre-season and are either not handed a real chance when the important fixtures begin, or fail to take it.

Sterling may be young, and raw, but there are reasons to suggest he will get his opportunities this campaign.

Firstly, his development is encouraging, and at least he can be regarded as being on the 'fringes' of the first team squad, yet Rodgers has no plans to send him out on loan. This can only indicate that he has a part to play.

Secondly, despite Liverpool's dearth of wingers, Stewart Downing is really the club's only 'specialist' player in the position, the club have not acted to sign any. Again this bodes well for Sterling.

Liverpool's formation is not likely to be a 4-4-2 next season, more a 4-5-1/4-3-3 hybrid, and if Sterling was to be handed a chance it would be as part of the front three, as a wide forward.

Craig Bellamy has moved onto Cardiff, again removing an obstacle from his path to the first team. And thirdly, Liverpool have the Europa League ahead of them which will increase the number of fixtures they need to play.

There will be a need to rotate, and Sterling will surely get his opportunities. He showed against Leverkusen he is ready to play against some of Europe's more competitive clubs, and whether he is thrown in from the start or handed a chance if and when qualification is assured and senior members of the team are rested, either would be satisfactory.

Then there are the domestic cup competitions for him to attempt to make an impact. The future looks promising for the youngster, who has it all ahead of him.

But perhaps he should not get too carried away just yet. He has, along with Suso Fernandez, been named in Liverpool's NextGen Series squad again, indicating that the tournament is seen by management as important for his development.

In likelihood it will be a bit of both for the youngster, who should simply be glad that he has done what he set out to do by taking his chances in pre-season, and must continue to do the same whenever he gets them, regardless of the competition.

Watch his goal against Leverkusen below:

image: © bernard-chan