Ben Woodburn moving to Hearts on loan could be the ideal move to restart his career, according to John Hartson.
Having impressed for Liverpool in pre-season, the midfielder looks set for an initial six-month spell at Tynecastle.
Woodburn has struggled for form in previous loan spells, after bursting onto the scene in 2016 and becoming the Reds’ youngest-ever goalscorer in a league cup quarter-final against Leeds.
Less than a year later, the then-17-year-old scored a late 25-yard winner against Austria on his Wales debut.
“At that point everyone could see he was a fantastic young talent”, John Hartson told the Daily Record .
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“But he’s stalled a wee bit recently. He went back to Liverpool and never really kicked on as well as he’d have wanted.”
The former Wales striker was still positive about the “fantastic” 21-year-old’s potential, though, as he chases a recall to the international setup having missed out on a place at Euro 2020.
Hearts have started the season well in the Scottish Premiership, winning both games and beating Celtic on the opening day, and Hartson is convinced Woodburn will improve the side.
“He’s versatile and can play as a centre forward, out wide or as a number 10”, he said.
“He has electric pace, he’s got a really good football brain and of course he’s been at Liverpool from an early age, so he’s been training with world-class, international players.
“It’d be a massive coup if Hearts could get him. Massive.
“To get him up here on loan will definitely enhance the talent in that Hearts group. If Robbie [Neilson] can pull this one off he deserves credit.”.
Hartson compared Woodburn’s early promise to that of Raheem Sterling or Phil Foden and although the Wales international has not reached those same heights, the former Celtic man suggested a loan could be exactly what he needs.
“People thought Ben might be in that bracket but while the likes of [Raheem] Sterling and [Phil] Foden pushed on, Woodburn hasn’t quite managed it.
“Right now he needs to try to get back up to that level again.
“When I was at West Ham, Frank Lampard went out to Swansea, Rio Ferdinand went to Bournemouth and that really helped their careers. There’s no reason why this move to Hearts can’t do the same for Ben.”
With one year left on his contract, Woodburn’s future at Anfield remains uncertain, but a successful loan spell could help the midfielder get his career back on track.
At 21, there’s still hope that Woodburn could develop into the player many believed he might become back in 2016.
