Kaide Gordon could hardly be described as being kept under wraps at the Academy.
His rapid elevation through the ranks since arriving from Derby County less than a year ago has ensured he has very much been on the radar of Liverpool supporters.
The wider public, though, had only an encouraging 90-minute debut outing in the Carabao Cup at Norwich City back in September on which to gauge the teenager’s potential.
Until now.
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Gordon’s moment to remember here in front of the Kop came on 34 minutes and demonstrated in one swift movement why there is such a buzz around his burgeoning talent.
Having drifted into a central position, the youngster controlled a driven, low cross from Conor Bradley with his right foot before shifting possession on to his left foot and slotting it beyond Shrewsbury Town goalkeeper Marko Marosi.
Composed, classy and clinical, it was typical of how Gordon has performed with both the under-18s and U23s at Kirkby.
And it made him, at 17 years 96 days old, the second-youngest goalscorer in Liverpool’s history, behind Ben Woodburn but pushing Michael Owen down into third place.
The first of many? Few would be surprised.
It was an important strike, too, in the context of this curiously subdued FA Cup third round tie with Liverpool having gone behind seven minutes earlier when Daniel Udoh capitalised on slack marking to put the 6,000 away supporters into dreamland.
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Gordon had been a willing runner during the first half, keeping Shrewsbury defender George Nurse honest with his work-rate and helping win a succession of corners.
Sure, the youngster faded a little in the second half, but that’s understandable given the lack of competitive action for the Academy youngsters over the festive period.
While injuries have this season prevented Gordon from having more of an expected first-team impact and limited his opportunities in the Carabao Cup, this outing has done his chances of involvement in the semi-final against Arsenal no harm.
The standing ovation he received on his late substitution was well deserved. The cat is now very much out of the bag regards the teenager.
