The Liverpool starlet has made rapid progress after playing for the team that produced Alan Shearer
Liverpool midfielder James McConnell became the latest Premier League debutant under Jurgen Klopp in 3-0 win over Brentford James McConnell on his Premier League debut for Liverpool against Brentford.
There was a warm hug for James McConnell from Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp as he prepared to make a late cameo against Toulouse FC in the Europa League.
Replacing Curtis Jones on his Anfield debut was the latest milestone in the short professional career of the young Reds player, who had only signed a long-term contract in October 2022 after being relatively unknown when first handed to him given the opportunity to train with the first team in preparation.
Two weeks after his first appearance, the 19-year-old reached another milestone when he faced Brentford in the closing stages of a 3-0 aggregate win. McConnell became the latest Kirkby Academy graduate to feature in the first team under Jurgen Klopp, following Luke Chambers, Conor Bradley and Jarell Quansah who have all made their way into the team this season. Although the young midfielder was introduced late as a replacement, his promotion to the academy took just five years after leaving the North East.
But McConnell’s journey begins not at the Kirkby Academy Complex, nor playing in the local regional amateur leagues, but with Cramlington Juniors a youth club six miles north of Newcastle upon Tyne featuring Alan Shearer, Andy Sinton and Steven Taylor among the alumni.
And at the age of 10, the Morpeth-born midfielder who mainly played in attacking midfield or on the wing in his early years was signed by Sunderland. His performances for Cramlington Juniors brought his potential to the attention of the academy.
McConnell’s first experience with the Black Cats was memorable for several reasons, and Sunderland manager Stu Brightwell shared a similar sentiment.
“James arrived, I will never forget that night,” he told the ECHO. “I arrived after training with another age group and went to the stables. “I remember watching part of the session, I didn’t know anything about him, who he was, and I remember at the end of the session I said to Ben Carr, the founding coach: ‘
Who is this boy ‘Is it James?’ and I said: ‘Please tell me he’s signed and he’s an academy player.'”I said, ‘If you don’t get it signed by your dad tonight before he leaves, there’s something wrong with you.'” He started laughing and sure enough, the next week, when the session started it was fully signed.
“The probationary period for Shadow Squad members typically lasted six weeks, with their development closely monitored before giving them the opportunity to complete their tenure at the Academy.
Mark Atkinson, former foundation manager and then head of coaching at Sunderland, now drawing on his experience at rivals Newcastle United, said McConnell was a rare case for the academy. “James bypassed that and came straight to the academy for trial. At that time the deadline was six weeks, after about a week we offered to sign it.
He bypassed normal processes because we recognized his talent,” he said.“James was always one of the players who played, so we always knew he was a talented player.
He had the work ethic and good family support so his talent could be seen from a young age, but more importantly, he had the attitude of a footballer. The midfielder spent five years at the Academy of Light before moving to Merseyside.
Throughout his time at Sunderland, McConnell played a year above his age group and since leaving the North East, experienced Academy observers have long recognized the potential since he entered the U18 team at the age of 16.
The sentiment resonated throughout the Northeast after McConnell stood out at a young age on teams full of quality.
The youngster will leave behind a successful youth environment at Sunderland, where he received a string of honors from under-12s to under-14s. And it was the Liverpool youngster who stood out from the rest, explained Brightwell:
“I managed the under-13s and the under-14s, him and another boy called Harrison Jones who’s still at Sunderland it was always the two of them, no matter who you asked, who was the best player in the Academy and it was always a 50/50 split between McConnell and Jones.”The two played (an age) before me, they always played for a year in the 14.
That year, when he was 12, I took care of the 11 and 12 and they won the national futsal championship and they both played there, they beat Chelsea in the final in Birmingham.
“When they got to the 13th and 14th stage I started managing them, so I had three years and when it came to the Under 14s they qualified for the national finals and hosted them at the Academy of Light.
Eventually we won that one, Chelsea won penalties and played a lot of games.“Two weeks later the Under 13s qualified for the national championships so James and Harrison came back to play for their age group and the final was in Swansea, believe it or not we beat Chelsea in the final.” Within the three-year groups, James was in the under-12s, under-13s and under-14s. He won three national titles and was fantastic. I left Sunderland at the end of that year when he went to the under-14s.
but Liverpool came through so that was his last year at Sunderland, so not a bad way to go out really.” We knew that we had a large group of good players and that without good players you won championships. We knew there would be interest, at that point few others had left.
He was one of them, in my opinion I was there 12 years and he is definitely among the first two I ever coached.” McConnell has enjoyed steady growth and development on Merseyside, as well as a surprise inclusion in pre-season preparations ahead of a big season for Klopp’s side this summer.
The 19-year-old finished his spell with Bridge-Wilkinson’s Under-18s with three appearances in under 50 appearances – scoring 10 and assisting six – while he scored a goal and an assist in his first 15 with Lewtas’ Under-21s. McConnell scored the Under-21 goal during a memorable weekend in his Liverpool career.
Just hours after watching the Reds brag about Everton from the bench, the midfielder got the nod against Benfica B in the Premier League International Cup.
Just three days later he would make his senior debut against Toulouse, a month shy of three years since making his Under-18 debut at the age of 16, in the crucial win over Leeds United.
Because those who have participated in its journey feel a burning pride in having played a role in its development. “The hours are long at Sunderland or any other academy,” says Brightwell. “I had two young children, which was difficult.
I was there at nine and we don’t get home until nine at night, but when you see that happen to someone like James, I would rate him as an absolute diamond. It makes all those times I gave up on the night a lot easier and it’s awesome to watch.
“I was a little surprised at how quickly it grew. He’s only in his second year at university, so I was surprised to see him doing what he’s doing now: Premier League, Europa League debut and traveling with the first team.”
Not because of his lack of quality, but there are a lot of players there and sometimes you have to loan them out, so it was surprising that he got it at such a young age, but a nice surprise I would say “.
Liverpool U18s met Newcastle United U18s last year and it was Atkinson’s first meeting with McConnell since the pair went their separate ways.
The change in position from the traditional number 10 or midfield eight with deployments as a winger caused a surprise when McConnell was further back. But as he bowed to Liverpool’s first team, there was unwavering pride.
Atkinson added: “I still speak to some of the Sunderland staff who are no longer there and it’s always a proud moment when you see someone from a younger age group that you’re working with and you understand how difficult it is.” “You can see the effort and commitment that went into it.
It’s always a proud moment and you’re over the moon for the player because it’s a difficult thing – making your debut for Liverpool Football Club. »As well as two senior national team appearances, McConnell has since been handed the captain’s armband by Lewtas.
Once qualification for the Europa League group stage is complete, McConnell will look to break into the first team – starting with Liverpool’s trip to Brussels to face Union Saint-Gilloise this month.
