BEN WOODBURN will be rewarded with a new five-year contract at Liverpool following his Wales exploits.
The Kop teen sensation became the saviour of the Dragons’ World Cup hopes with his match-winning sub appearances against Austria and Moldova.
Now boss Jurgen Klopp wants to tie down Woodburn, currently contracted at Anfield until 2019, on a long-term deal when he turns 18 next month.
Wales manager Chris Coleman revealed he defied Klopp to give the whizkid his international break.
Klopp is still keen to keep Woodburn under wraps and did not want him involved with his country just yet.
However, Coleman felt sure the youngster was ready and feels vindicated after his super shows in the World Cup qualifiers.
Cookie said: “Jurgen Klopp felt it was a bit early for Ben but we’ve all got opinions which is what is great about football. If he was ready to score that great debut goal at the Kop end, then he was ready.
“We weren’t going to start him in both games and play him for 90 minutes.
More Liverpool stories
“We were going to be choosy when we use him but he’s a good, young talent that’s for sure.”
Woodburn, who scored in the EFL Cup last season against Leeds, has yet to feature in Klopp’s first-team squad in five games this season and has made just one Premier League start.
Liverpool have resisted the opportunity to send him out on loan to get some first-team football as the German wants him at Anfield.
Coleman added: “It will be up to Jurgen Klopp and Ben on how far or how close he is to the first team.
“What we’ve seen is he is a very bright young player and he’s certainly shown enough with us again. Whatever happens in the next six or 12 months will be up to Jurgen and Ben himself.”
It seems as if Woodburn is already lifting some of the pressure off Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey and Joe Allen.
most read in football
Coleman added: “In my time in charge we’ve had Gareth, Rambo and Joe Allen, this is the 15th time we’ve started with them and I’ve been here for 46 games.
“We’re always looking at ways to broaden the squad and we need more players playing at the top level.
“We know he’s got the capacity to open a defence up but we felt we had to protect him.”
Spurs defender Ben Davies said: “Ben has shown he can hack it with the best.
“If you put him on in any game he can have an impact.”
Keep up to date with ALL the transfer news and gossip on our blog