Liverpool striker, 18, set for chance to convince Andoni Iraola

Liverpool striker, 18, set for chance to convince Andoni Iraola - 'I've shown everyone'

Teenage Liverpool striker Will Wright is hopeful of being a part of the forthcoming tour to the United States

Teenage striker Will Wright is eyeing a place on Liverpool's tour to the United States as he sets sights on a first-team breakthrough this season.

The Reds jet out on Monday week to Chicago for a training camp ahead of their three-game tour of the States in which they face Sunderland, Leeds United and Wrexham.

With none of Liverpool's eight-strong World Cup contingent expected to be available for the start of the tour, new head coach Andoni Iraola will turn to the Academy to bolster numbers.

And 18-year-old Wright, who was back at the AXA Training Centre this week to start pre-season with the under-21s, is hopeful of being including having made the senior matchday squad towards the end of his debut season having arrived from Salford City last August.

OPINION

"Obviously (I) hope to go on tour maybe, get some minutes and show the fans what I'm about," he said. "Then long-term plans, hopefully just play for Liverpool and become the number nine.

"My first year was all about settling in but I think I've done more than just settle in. I think I've shown everyone who I am and what I'm about.

"Being younger, it was a pretty big move for me. My time has been really good.

"Obviously I started to get more opportunities towards the end of the season. I picked up an injury in September and only came back in January, but I think since then I've come back stronger and fitter. I think I've shown everyone what I'm about."

Wright made the senior bench four times having concluded the Premier League 2 campaign with five goals and three assists in his final seven outings.

The forward featured at Anfield just days after arriving at Liverpool last August when playing the final 16 minutes of the 3-2 friendly win over Athletic Bilbao.

"I remember being passed by the Premier League that I can train and my first training session was on the Friday, and then we (the U21s) had a game on the Saturday," he said to liverpoolfc.com.

"Before that game on the Saturday, I think it was like a one o'clock or two o'clock kick-off maybe, I did my driving test at like eight in the morning and passed, so that was good.

"Then on the Monday night, I played at Anfield. It was probably the best weekend of my life, to be fair.

"I only started playing academy football at 15, 16. To be able to say two years later I'd be playing at Anfield with all the players that I'm playing with now, it was such a dream come true really and definitely overshot what I originally thought I could do. I'm really proud."

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