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Ryan Kent is set to lead a mini-exodus from the Liverpool Academy with a number of youngsters heading out on loan.

Winger Kent impressed with the first team in several friendlies this pre-season and was the most influential performer in the U21s’ 4-1 defeat of Rhyl FC on Sunday.

Kent scored and hit the bar in a 90 minutes which saw him take the captain’s armband in the second half with the expectation now that he can gain further experience as he did last year in an impressive loan spell at Coventry. Barnsley is thought to remain one possible destination.

The 19-year-old is unlikely to be the only player heading off to gain further experience with centre back Lloyd Jones and forward Jack Dunn also set for moves away from Kirkby. Jones enjoyed a spell at Blackpool last season before suffering a serious injury.

Speaking after the game on Sunday, U21s manager Michale Beale told the ECHO: “A loan for Ryan would be really important, you can see he’s got lots of talent, you’ve seen that in the four games for the first team.

“He’s the fittest player we’ve got at the minute, because he’s played four games and everybody else has played two. That was the reason he played the 90 minutes today and he wore the captain’s armband second half so I’m not sure he’s done that much before.

“He’s one of the older players and I’m really pleased with him. He got some assists for the first team and scored a good goal again today.”

The moves seem to suggest that Jurgen Klopp has slightly adapted his stance on loans after he suggested on his arrival at Anfield that he wanted more of the younger players remaining at the club for progression.

That is happening with Klopp claiming he had found “four new players” with the performances of Kent, Ovie Ejaria, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ben Woodburn in pre-season but the need to keep moving players through the system means a loan can sometimes be the best way to garner the necessary experience while evaluating players who might not be likely to feature yet at first team level.

Another two players who have previously gone on loan also continued comebacks at Rhyl, with Harry Wilson opening the scoring in the first half and Jordan Williams completing the last half an hour.

Beale said: “It’s early days with both of them. Harry played 30 minutes on Wednesday, today was his first 45. he scored a heck of good goal and had a particularly good first half. He would be frustrated at last season to see so many people get on because if he was fit, he’d have seen that sort of pathway for himself.

“I have every faith and trust in Harry and it’s a big season for him.

“I must also mention Jack Dunn. I thought the played very well today. He’s another one who will be looking to get out on loan, get back playing men’s football because he made a big name for himself at Cheltenham and Burton a couple of years ago and he’s been injured a lot.

“Jordan Williams was basically a first team player for a whole year, then he went away to Swindon and did very well there before suffering a bit of a knee injury that has taken a while but he certainly hasn’t been forgotten about by anyone at the club.

“That was his first 30 minutes in 10 months there and this time last year he was playing for Swindon against our first team and he’ll get that back quickly.

“You can see second half that he’s a big presence on the pitch and passes the ball very well, and obviously he’s a very versatile playing as a centre half or in centre midfield. So if he can stay fit for me then fantastic and we’ll then be looking to push him onwards and upwards.

“One or two of the older members of the group - Lloyd Jones, Jack Dunn - will possibly go on loan in the next two weeks. Then Ovie Ejaria, Trent Alexander, Ben Woodburn they’ll come back and join this group once the tour ends.

"Ben will be back in training this week, we just gave him a few days to let everything calm down around him, obviously he’s still such a young boy.”