Last week, England Under-21s manager Aidy Boothroyd chose to share his deep concern over the plight facing Dominic Solanke at club level.

Of the Liverpool striker, he told reporters: “I’m really pleased with Dom but I’m also a little bit worried about him because he is not getting the minutes and not getting the games.

“I am happy on the pitch picking the best players, but for the good of England and for the good of British football it would be nicer if we had more players playing, certainly better for us and for them.”

Evidently a fan of irony, Boothroyd proceeded to name the 20-year-old on the substitutes’ bench as his team faced the Netherlands 24 hours later - a decision that did not go unnoticed at Melwood.

Liverpool have every right to feel aggrieved over being targeted during an international break that saw them provide four players to the England senior team prior to Adam Lallana’s withdrawal due to injury.

That number would have surely been higher were it not for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s long-term absence due to a knee problem.

Solanke was not on their only representative in the Three Lions’ youth teams either, with Adam Lewis and Curtis Jones also receiving call-ups to the U20s and U18s respectively.

Meanwhile, a look to the right-hand side of the Reds’ back four should provide sufficient evidence that there are few better places than Anfield for these young English players to thrive.

That is where Joe Gomez and Trent Alexander-Arnold - combined age: 40 - have started the first four games of the new Premier League season, and where they will compete at the very highest level across the remainder of the campaign.

Of course, Solanke has yet to feature in the Reds’ squad so far this season but Boothroyd’s comments were viewed as bizarre by senior figures at Liverpool on the basis that he is hardly a unique case in the latest U21s squad.

Josh Onomah and Tammy Abraham secured loan moves to Sheffield Wednesday and Aston Villa respectively prior to the international break having failed to clock up a single minute of action this term.

Meanwhile, across Stanley Park, Kieran Dowell and Jonjoe Kenny only have League Cup appearances to their name thanks to Everton having entered the competition in the second round.

As such, Liverpool’s coaching staff have not wavered from their belief that Solanke is best served remaining on Merseyside for now.

The former Chelsea man was the subject of interest from Huddersfield Town, Middlesbrough, Aston Villa, Rangers and Lyon among others during the transfer window, but each approach was swiftly rejected by the Reds.

And the justification for that decision could well be provided over the upcoming period that sees the Reds contest seven games in 23 days.

Solanke remains highly rated by Klopp and his assistant Pep Lijnders - a former youth coach - in particular, though now is surely the time for the German boss to deliver on his promise that his No.29 would have “a part to play” going forward.

While he waits for his opportunity, the striker could do worse than look to Liverpool’s opponents this weekend for evidence of the value of patience and making the most of any playing time he can get.

It is often forgotten that Tottenham forward Harry Kane played just 498 Premier League minutes in the season before he turned 21, and that he had spent the campaign prior to that enduring disappointing loan spells at Leicester and Norwich.

Last term, Solanke registered 582 minutes and so, with his 21st birthday approaching on Friday, will no doubt be hoping that he too can announce himself at first-team level this time around.

The forward can take pride from the fact that Gareth Southgate is sure to be watching closely, the England boss having this week said: “I still have a lot of faith in the likes of Solanke in particular, who I think has been outstanding at every age level.”

As Klopp looks to prove that such faith is not misplaced, he will at least be able to count on the support of the senior national team manager, if not his U21s counterpart.