Rob Page backs Liverpool youngster to make World Cup impact - 'Great attitude'

Young Liverpool forward Lewis Koumas has started well on loan with Hull City and he is expected to go to the World Cup with Wales this summer in the USA, Canada and Mexico

Young Liverpool forward Lewis Koumas.(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Liverpool U21s head coach Rob Page has backed 20-year-old forward Lewis Koumas to continue to help Wales in its bid to make the World Cup, with his national side taking on Bosnia and Herzegovina next.

A win there would set up a play-off to reach the tournament in the USA, Canada and Mexico next summer, with Wales, managed by the former Liverpool winger Craig Bellamy, aiming to qualify for the competition.

Northern Ireland, who Conor Bradley captains, and Koumas' Wales could meet in the 2026 World Cup play-off final after being placed on the same pathway in the European draw. However, both must first navigate difficult semi-finals.

Northern Ireland has been paired with Italy after finishing third behind Germany and Slovakia in their qualifying group. It advanced to the play-offs as one of the best Nations League group winners outside the top two.

Wales, meanwhile, has done well under the guidance of Bellamy. Koumas has nine caps for his senior national team so far and will be looking to build on that this year.

"He’s a great lad," U21s boss Page said, via The RedMen TV. "I had a pre-season with him, and he’s great to work with. He’s got a great attitude.

(Image: Getty Images)

"You want to pull the reins on him to stop him pressing, which is great, isn’t it?

"You’re trying to get players to encourage them to press high and aggressively, but it’s quite the opposite with him.

"I’ve seen a couple of his goals. He’s always off the last man, playing off the shoulder. He likes that physicality. Sometimes it’s a tackle as he’s finishing, so he’s great one-on-one.

"It’s great to see him in that form. Great support staff at Hull. I know Dean Holden quite well, who’s the assistant there, so he’ll give him all the support he needs.

"It's great for our football club to have young players going out and playing really well and helping us develop them.

"And great for Welsh football, obviously, because we’ve got the play-offs coming up and two big games in March and Craig (Bellamy) will no doubt want all his young players playing well at a decent level, and he falls into that category."

Koumas was on loan at Birmingham City for the first half of the season. However, he switched to Hull in January in search of more regular starts, and scored off the bench on his debut.