Jordan Henderson was set on course for glory at Liverpool with the help of Manchester United legend Roy Keane.
Henderson began his career at hometown club Sunderland before making a £16million move to Anfield in the summer of 2011.
The 29-year-old has gone on to make more than 300 appearances for the Reds and skippered the side to European Cup, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup success last year.
And Ricky Sbragia, who was first-team coach at Sunderland when Henderson made his senior breakthrough, has highlighted the decisions made by then Black Cats boss Keane that proved Henderson was on the right track.
“Roy could see his potential," said Sbragia. "Roy was great for him. The years and the experience he had in that position, it was an undoubted help.
“However, towards the end, it wasn’t quite happening when Roy was in charge at Sunderland, but I remember when Jordan played one of his first matches (his Premier League debut in November 2008).
“We were at Chelsea – and 3-0 down at half-time. Frank Lampard, Deco and Jon-Obi Mikel were playing in their midfield.
“We were getting a bit of a chasing, and Roy must have thought that it was a good time to see what he was made of as he threw Jordan on at half-time. Jordan couldn’t have been much more than 18.
“When we reviewed the match afterwards – it made for painful viewing because we ended up conceding five – but Jordan had given a pretty good account of himself.
"He certainly wasn’t afraid of the situation that he found himself in, or the players he was up against."
Two months later, Keane opted to send Henderson on loan to Coventry City, then in the Championship, on an initial month-long loan that was extended until the end of the season.
And Sbraglia, speaking to the Mirror, added of the temporary move: “That can tell you plenty about a young player.
"You do get ups and downs whenever you loan out a player. Are they going to play? Are they going to sink or swim? Do they think they’re better than the club they’re going to?
“He viewed it as he should have been as a continuation of his education. He wanted to go.”
