Former Leeds United striker Noel Whelan has backed Harvey Elliott to break into Liverpool's first-team next season, on the back of his performances on loan at Blackburn Rovers during the current campaign.
Having joined Rovers on a season-long loan from Liverpool back in the summer transfer window, Elliott has already made quite an impact at Ewood Park.
The 17-year-old winger has already scored two goals and provided four assists - his latest teeing up Joe Rothwell's stunning effort in Blackburn's 2-2 draw at Brentford on Saturday - in 11 league appearances for Tony Mowbray's side, and Whelan seems to believe that the move is paying off for all concerned.
Speaking to Football Insider about the decision to loan Elliott to Rovers, Whelan claimed: “It was a very wise decision to send him to Blackburn, absolutely.
“He is not far from Liverpool so he has not been moved too far away from home. He already looks very settled there under a great manager who play a good style of football. That was a big reason why Liverpool loaned him out to Blackburn."
Indeed, it seems Whelan is now expecting big things from Elliott as a result of what he has done for Rovers so far this season, as he went on to add: “Both managers will be over the moon that he is succeeding and producing weekly in the Championship. Liverpool sent him there to make that progression and he has shown that he is good enough for the Championship.