Making your first-team debut for Liverpool is a moment that will never be forgotten for many players, regardless of the path taken to reach this point.
For Academy prospect Harvey Blair, this special occasion arrived in surprising circumstances in October of last year as Jurgen Klopp's side faced Preston North End in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup. An under-18s player at this point, Blair's professional debut arrived before he had even made his under-23s bow.
The 19-year-old had worked his way through the ranks, having joined the club at under-12s level from Manchester United, and was thrust into the limelight at Deepdale as Klopp opted to rest a number of senior players.
READ MORE: Joao Gomes throws transfer into doubt despite admitting he 'dreams' of Liverpool move
READ MORE: Neymar made to look stupid by Roberto Firmino after Liverpool prediction backfired
Reflecting on how he found out this opportunity was forthcoming, Blair told Liverpoolfc.com: "It was Thursday and I was meant to be playing with the U23s against Blackburn. One of my team-mates texted me and he was like, 'ot's just been put in the U23s group, how come you're not in the team?' I was thinking, 'wow come I'm not in the U23s team?' I didn't think anything of it.
"Then [U23s analyst] Ray Shearwood called me and said, 'you're not going to be involved in the game with the U23s because Jurgen wants you to be up there to train. We trained on the Monday and I did really well. I was playing right wing and I was doing really well, had a really good session.
"I was so nervous and everything was coming on top of me. I was just like, 'I'm actually going to play for Liverpool, my team'. It was such a crazy moment."
After making the most of this cameo appearance, Blair would go on to end the 2021/22 season with 14 goals to his name in all competitions and has since made the step-up to Barry Lewtas' under-23s group. The forward, who is capable of operating on both flanks or as a central figure in attack, opened his goalscoring account for the current campaign in the Reds' dramatic 3-3 draw with Tottenham Hotspur last month.
As well as making a habit of contributing within the final third, another aim for Blair is likely to be staying clear of a lengthy spell on the sidelines. The Huddersfield-born winger saw his first year with the under-18s cut short after sustaining a hamstring injury, limiting him to only four league appearances.
Under-18s manager Marc Bridge-Wilkinson warned in August of last year Blair would 'start to show what he is about' should he manage to stay fit - a challenge the player has since accepted in style as he holds out for further chances to catch the attention of Klopp.
Still waiting for his first Premier League 2 start of the season means the the months ahead will demand patience from the teenager, whose primary focus must be displacing the current attacking options at Lewtas' disposal.
READ NEXT:
- Liverpool can start negotiating with four superstars over free transfers in January
- Sadio Mane suffers more Bayern Munich pain after claims former Liverpool star is 'unhappy'
- Why Chelsea vs Liverpool has been postponed but Brentford vs Arsenal fixture hasn't
- Arthur Melo expectations explained as Thiago Alcantara claim made
- Liverpool to use teenage goal machine in Europe as striker plan detailed
