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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Ian Doyle

Liverpool talent nicknamed 'The Wand' at the Academy makes England debut after 'stepping up'

There may be dwindling Liverpool representation in the England national team at present, with Jordan Henderson the only player to have made the most recent squad named by Gareth Southgate.

But further down the youth ranks, the Reds are making waves for their country.

Both Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones are aiming to feature for Lee Carsley's under-21 side against France on Saturday and Croatia next Tuesday, while there were a trio of Liverpool youngsters in action on Wednesday night as England U20s earned a 2-0 win over Germany at Manchester City's Academy.

Harvey Davies, the 19-year-old shot-stopper who has been a regular for the Reds U21 this season and has previously been involved with the first team, and centre-back Jarell Quansah, currently impressing on loan at League One outfit Bristol Rovers, helped keep a clean sheet.

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And it was a special evening for Dom Corness, the 19-year-old midfielder who celebrated his first international call-up with the age group by making his debut from the bench late on.

The first outing was deserved reward for Corness after an impressive season with Liverpool U21s that saw him sign an extended new contract in November. The midfielder - who has long been dubbed 'the Wand' at the Academy due to his ability at set-pieces with his left foot - was a regular in the Reds side that reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Youth League, his progress recognised by and has recently being handed the captain's armband by U21s coach Barry Lewtas.

"Dom is a real leader for us and he has deserved the armband," said Lewtas. "He is a big influence. We all know about his left foot and what he can deliver for us from set-pieces.

"He has been a big part of what we have done at U19 and U21 level this season. He has worked so hard on his game and he is a fantastic character. He always wants to listen and get better. Dom has turned into a real model professional and I’m really proud of him.

"He has stepped up this season and he has been a big part of how we play. I know he’s looking forward to this game and he deserves all the plaudits that have come his way this season."

Corness, a homegrown talent who has been at the Academy since the age of five, broke into the U18 side in 2018 and moved up to the U21s last season before becoming a regular this term, with his form having caught the eye earlier in the campaign.

"Dom controls the game for us and helps us play the way we want to play," said Lewtas in October. "We want a midfielder who can break the game up in that position but who can also control it, and that's Dominic's standout quality, his ability to dictate the pace of the game.

"It's all down to his ability to pass. He has every pass in the locker, really. He can pass straight through the lines, he can switch the play."

There is good reason for Corness and his Liverpool colleagues to hope for the chance to impress with England in friendlies in Spain against the USA on Saturday and France on Tuesday. The young Lions have qualified for the U20 World Cup, which takes place in Indonesia between May 20 and June 11. It has provided the springboard for several professional careers, with the top scorer at the last tournament in 2019 a certain Erling Haaland.

Corness has been making his mark on Merseyside this season. The world could now await 'the Wand'.

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