When will Adam Morgan get his big chance at Liverpool?

Adam Morgan is another promising name in Liverpool's highly rated crop of youngsters and all signs were that this was going to be his breakthrough year. It still may be, but while the club have been blooding several young talents in recent weeks, he remains out of the first team picture.

The signing of Samed Yesil appears to have pushed him down the pecking order, and despite travelling with the squad to the Hawthorns for the away game against West Brom last week in the Capital One Cup, Morgan did not make the bench.

He responded on Monday by scoring for the club's under-21 side against Fulham, in a win which attracted headlines for the appearance of Joe Cole on his return from injury, who also found the back of the net.

So will 18-year-old Morgan follow his fellow youth team stars Andre Wisdom and Raheem Sterling in making the step up to the seniors? He will certainly hope so. Let us rewind a little.

Morgan really announced himself in 2010/11, when he scored 21 goals for the Academy team, including a memorable performance in a Youth Cup tie against Manchester United, in which he endeared himself to the club's fans by celebrating his goal in front of the United supporters by holding up five fingers, signifying the club's European Cup titles.

Last season was another impressive one, as he featured for the club's NextGen side, helping them claim third place in the competition, and this earned him a place on the club's pre-season tour.

He immediately made an impact under Brendan Rodgers, scoring as a substitute against Toronto in July. After the game the new manager said: "He's a really, really good kid. He's come in, he's taken everything on board that I've talked about. He's technically good, he's got a natural eye for a goal."

Morgan's pre-season performances in turn led to a role in the club's Europa League qualifiers, as a 90th minute substitute away to Hearts, and he was handed a starting role when the Scottish club visited Anfield.

The game ended 1-1, and Morgan failed to make a lasting impression, and has not featured in any capacity since then. He was included with the travelling Liverpool squad against Young Boys, but like the West Brom match a week later, he did not make the bench.

New signing Samed Yesil did on both occasions, who Morgan competed against for England under-19s earlier in the month. In the game against the Baggies, the club elected to include youngest ever signing Jerome Sinclair on the bench ahead of him. A reflection on Morgan's chances? Likely not, more a case of Rodgers wanting to make a bold statement about the direction he saw Liverpool going in.

Even so, Morgan will hope for another opportunity again soon, for this period between now and January is potentially crucial to his Liverpool career. With Andy Carroll on loan and the club light in the striking department, the opportunity is ripe for Morgan to make an impression and carve himself a future at the club. If he doesn't get a chance, or doesn't take one, he will no doubt be kicking himself.

There is plenty of time ahead, and the club's busy fixture list will no doubt ensure his chance comes again, and he will be even more determined to take it. If he were to feature now, unlike the Hearts game, when Liverpool were in somewhat of an identity crisis, the club have begun to hit form, and playing alongside so many of his fellow youngsters should see his game flourish with it.

He is close, the fact he is travelling with the squads, rather than being involved with the NextGen team again shows he is considered a first team option by Rodgers, and his pre-season strike means the manager certainly knows a bit about what he is capable of.

His goal on Monday will have served as a timely reminder, and it may just be enough to earn him a spot on the bench against Udinese tomorrow night, but if not, another chance to show what he can do can't be far away.

When would you like to see Morgan given an opportunity? 

image: © Sanjiva