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Thierry Henry says Liverpool will continue to be careful with the development of 16-year-old talent Rio Ngumoha, but the French legend has been impressed with what he has seen so far.
Ngumoha came off the bench to score a 100th-minute winner for Liverpool against Newcastle United on Monday, four days before he turns 17. Arne Slot used him a lot during pre-season and the expectation is that he will be considered as a genuine option for the Reds during the next few months.
"He announced himself, but playing [regularly], it is a bit early for him," Henry said during an appearance on Sky Sports. "I'm happy that [Ngumoha] was able to finish how he finished [the goal].
"He looked like a player who has been playing for a very long time with how composed he was. As soon as he came onto the field, he had the desire, that will, that he wanted to change the game."
Ngumoha took his goal very confidently, but didn't look out of place even before that finish. He was giving Newcastle defenders a tough time with his skills and trickery.
When Dominik Szoboszlai dummied the ball and left it for Ngumoha, he put it past Nick Pope emphatically.
Henry also spoke about Alexander Isak, who met with Newcastle's owners earlier in the day to discuss his desire to move on. The Liverpool target wasn't involved in the game and has so far been training alone this summer.
"When you have a player in this type of situation at Newcastle where Isak wants to leave, it’s because he’s good that people are upset," Henry said.
"When a player is playing badly and the club wants him out, I don’t see anyone crying for the player. We never know the whole story, but all I would say is that you cannot put yourself in a situation [as a player] where you don't come to training.
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"I think for me in an ideal world, the best thing for everyone would be for him to leave. If [Isak] realizes he has made a mistake in terms of what he has done to the dressing room, he can apologize, he can move on.
"The best thing for me right now would be if he goes. But [Isak] needs to apologize if he wants a way back into the club."
With the transfer deadline coming up in six days' time, there is a limited period in which Liverpool can do a deal for Isak. So far, though, the Swede has remained in exile.
Liverpool.com says: Ngumoha is a huge prospect. Liverpool won't want to overly rely on him too soon but every time he enters the pitch at the moment, he makes an impact. If you're good enough, you're old enough.
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