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Freddie Woodman looks set to get his chance with Liverpool this evening - and former England manager Gareth Southgate may well be watching on with pride.
Having joined the Reds on a free transfer during the summer, there wouldn’t have been many people expecting the former Preston and Newcastle goalkeeper to be handed an opportunity so early on in the season.
Arriving as backup to Alisson Becker and Giorgi Mamardashvili, Woodman was never really meant to see much action for the Reds, but an injury to Liverpool’s usual No.1 has opened the door for him to make his debut tonight against his boyhood club.
A true South Londoner, the 28-year-old grew up supporting Crystal Palace and made his way through the ranks at Selhurst Park before joining Newcastle in 2013.
In starting out with the Eagles, Woodman followed in the footsteps of his father, Andy - and that’s where the connection with Southgate developed.
Woodman senior - also a goalkeeper who now manages League Two side Bromley - became best friends with the ex-England boss during their time together at Palace. The pair even wrote a book together about their “football friendship”.
"I think they said whoever has a kid first, the other would be godfather - and then I was born," Woodman junior told BBC Sport Wales back in 2019.
"I have got a few England shirts he (Southgate) gave me for birthdays growing up - they are up in the house. But I haven't had a present for a few years. As you get older you get a WhatsApp instead."
Although he admits to not seeing his godfather so much these days, Woodman and Southgate have stayed in touch over the years. In fact, the Liverpool keeper had looked to have been on the pathway to becoming an England international, having been part of the side that won the 2017 U20 World Cup, where he won the Golden Glove award.
Although that dream hasn’t quite been realized, Woodman is determined to make the most of his opportunity with Liverpool - having been convinced on the move to Merseyside by his father.
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“I wanted to keep playing and I’m only 28, but there was a conversation in the summer where Liverpool came up," Woodman said in an interview for the club's matchday programme. "I had other options but my dad said to me, ‘How do you turn down Liverpool? You just can’t do it.’
“I’m very happy with my decision because l get to work with the best players in the world and I get to work up close with Ali and Giorgi, who are top goalkeepers who I think are only going to make me better and help my development.”
Woodman added: “Any time I get to pull on the jersey for this club, whether it be a pre-season game or whatever competition, I’ll always just try to do my best and enjoy the moment, because I’ve spent a lot of time playing in the Championship and so to play for a club with this history is pretty special."
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