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Jurgen Klopp has vowed to keep developing his impressive cohort of Academy stars and insists: when they are old enough, they will be good enough.

But the Liverpool boss is also keen to temper the expectations around the youngsters in the squad, despite a number of them shining once more during the 2-0 win over Wigan Athletic.

Ben Woodburn was one of the Reds' best players in the second half, notching the second goal of the game, while Ryan Kent, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ovie Ejaria continued their impressive pre-season campaigns too.

The teenage quartet have been one of the real positives of Liverpool's first three games of the summer, but will soon find competition for places even tougher with the return of those still recovering from their Euro 2016 exploits.

Klopp revealed his playing squad would return to its full compliment on July 26, with just one more game to be played – at Huddersfield on Wednesday – before 10 first-team players, including the likes of Jordan Henderson, Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi, return.

Despite that, Klopp has promised the future remains bright for his youngsters.

“It’s the proof of the good work of the youth department, of the Academy of LFC,” he said. “I need to be blind not to see the talent of these boys - I have nothing to do with their qualities. I would like to say I have had a big influence on them, but it’s not true.

“My biggest skill is I am patient, so I can wait and we will wait until these guys are really ready. It’s about timing, but they are in a good way and we will never forget them - that’s for sure.

“It’s not that we have them and use them now in the pre-season and then never think about them. They are in our books for sure and we will do everything so that when they are old enough, they will be good enough.”

'We will take two of them to the USA'

With Liverpool's full first-team squad expected to travel over for the tour of the United States in the early hours of Thursday morning, Klopp revealed he is likely to only take two of the Academy stars across the Atlantic, where the Reds will face off against Chelsea, AC Milan and Roma.

The German, however, insists it does not really matter who heads Stateside, as the real development will take place back on Merseyside over the coming months.

“I think we’ll take two of them, but no final decision,” he added. “It’s not about taking them.

“I think in the last few years in England it’s always a lot of youngsters in pre-season and everyone is excited about how good they are, then you never hear something about them.

“I don’t want to do it like this - 1oo% not - we see the qualities and we want to improve these guys, we want to develop them. That’s what we do. It’s not about America.

“Ejaria, Trent Alexander and Ben are still in school - okay at the moment it’s holidays but they have a few other things to do.

“That’s how life is, our lives were the same. We will be with them, help them, and we know about their qualities so it’s the best situation.”

'We are their family'

Klopp was also keen to play down the excitement around the young players and Woodburn in particular, adding: “I really like these stories. The problem is that you can make these guys is that you write too much about them. You have enough time, they are young enough.

“You can write about them when they are 18, 19 and don't bring them into the situation of going to school and not going to school, meeting the friends...I couldn't have explained in this age what happens to me in this moment so cool down, everything is good.

“We are something like their family and we will really keep an eye on them. But it's not important who will join us in America. We are are not going there on holiday and it's not the most important training for them in their lives so they have their own team at home and we will see what will happen.

“If we have the situation and if they learn, if they listen and stay concentrated and disciplined then they have a bright future that's for sure. But between now and the bright future, there's a lot of work. Let's start with the work and not with the news.”

The buzz surrounding the talent coming out of Kirkby is tangible, but Klopp has refused to entertain the idea the younger players – Ejaria, Alexander-Arnold and Woodburn – would be sent elsewhere on loan.

He also insisted their emergence would not affect transfer plans, with more deals to be done before the transfer window closes.

When asked if he is planning on assessing his squad once more, he said: “That will happen, a few things will happen I am pretty sure. I don’t know exactly what but on both sides, it makes no sense to stay in the squad and be in the squad when you don’t have a real opportunity to play. When there’s no chance to play, it makes absolutely no sense.

“The players are young… We will not give on loan our very young players, absolutely no chance. We have a few players, maybe who want to leave us and I am pretty sure it will happen – and one or two more players will join us from other clubs.

“It’s a long time until August 31 and we have to work a little bit.”