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‘Dreams do really come true’, tweeted elated Liverpool FC rookie Adam Phillips after making his senior bow against Brondby this week.

Brendan Rodgers saw enough during those 45 minutes in Copenhagen to name the midfielder in his 33-man squad for the Reds’ fortnight-long trip to America.

The 16-year-old, who has only recently finished his studies at Rainhill School, will be the youngest member of Liverpool’s touring party when they fly off to Boston tomorrow.

Phillips is from the Lancashire town of Garstang and joined the Reds’ Academy at the age of 11 after three years with Blackburn Rovers.

His surprise promotion to the first-team set-up came after the first year scholar began pre-season with Neil Critchley’s U18s at the Kirkby Academy earlier this month.

“Adam came down for the first day two weeks ago when I did an induction meeting with the first years to welcome them aboard and tell them what to expect over the coming year,” Critchley said.

“On the following Monday Adam was called down to train with the first team at Melwood and we haven’t seen him since.

“ I’m not surprised that the manager is keen to have a good look at him. He’s a talented lad who can play in a number of positions.

“He played wide right against Brondby but he can also play centrally.

“He played No 6, No 8 and No 10 for the U18s last season.

“He has a great range of passing and he can score goals. He can do a bit of everything.”

Phillips has represented England at U16 level and Critchley is confident the youngster will flourish during the tour and justify his selection.

“Adam will handle it fine,” he added.

“It will be great for him to spend that amount of time with all the senior players and to work with Brendan and his staff – to see how they operate on a daily basis will be invaluable experience for someone of his age.

“He’s a mature lad - really level-headed and well grounded.

“I’m sure there will be a bit of nervous excitement but it won’t go to his head. He will take it all in his stride.”

While Phillips takes his first steps in the senior ranks, there are others in the Reds’ squad with considerably more resting on the trip Stateside.

For Fabio Borini, Suso, Andre Wisdom, Jordon Ibe, Sebastian Coates, Conor Coady and Jack Robinson, who were all sent out on loan last term, this tour provides them with the chance to demonstrate why they shouldn’t be overlooked this time around.

New recruits Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana, Emre Can and Lazar Markovic will be keen to hit the ground running and show why Rodgers secured their services.

It’s a case of now or never for Martin Kelly at Anfield and Jose Enrique has much to prove after an injury-ravaged season and with the club in the market for a new left-back.

Throw in the fact that uncertainty surrounds the futures of long-serving trio Daniel Agger, Lucas Leiva and Pepe Reina and it promises to be an intriguing few weeks in the land of opportunity.

Reds coaches out to leave US tour legacy

Brendan Rodgers’ star names will be in the spotlight as they lock horns with some European football heavyweights in the United States over the next fortnight.

But there is a lot more to this trip than the prestigious fixture list.

Behind the scenes a team of community coaches from the club’s charity, the Liverpool FC Foundation, will deliver football clinics to more than 500 young people in Boston, Chicago, New Jersey and Charlotte.

Working in partnership with the Red Sox Foundation in Boston next week, they will visit Camp Harbor View Summer Camp, Perkins School for the Blind and Boston Children’s Hospital.

A special session will also take place with members of the New York Fire Department and their families.

Mark Haig, head of operations at the Liverpool FC Foundation, said: “We are delighted to be revisiting the US again as part of the club’s pre-season tour.

“Our international work uses football as a catalyst to inspire positive change and touch as many lives as possible, regardless of ability and background.

“The impact of our work is important in establishing a lasting legacy wherever we visit.”

Reds’ college team ready to take on the best in league

The Liverpool FC Foundation Football College has become the first in Merseyside to gain category one status with the English Colleges Football Association League.

It means from September the college, which is based at the University of Liverpool Wyncote Sports Ground, will play against the top colleges from around the country.

Under the guidance of college directors David MacDiarmid and David Rowe, around 120 boys and girls aged 16 to 19 from across the city train on a daily basis while working towards achieving educational qualifications.

MacDiarmid is hoping securing the prized category one status will enable the college to go from strength to strength.

He said: “After being Dallas Cup finalists, Floodlit Cup winners, ECFA Cup winners, finalists and semi-finalists as category two entrants over the past three years the college’s young Reds have already set the standards high.

“The college U19s team will face an exciting start to the season. Pre-season will see the group face Manchester United, Sydney FC, Derby County and Doncaster Rovers. There are still some places left at the college for September 2014. There are open trial sessions with matches and training at the LFC Academy in Kirkby on August 5, 7, 12, 14, 19 from 5pm until 7pm.”

To reserve a place call 0151 724-4983. Student enrolment is on August 21/22 at Wyncote Sport Ground.

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