Next up in the ECHO’s Next Gen series, Ian Doyle looks at how Lewis Koumas has been transformed from midfielder into devastating striker
A year can be a long time in the development of any young footballer. But for fledgling Liverpool talent Lewis Koumas, it has transformed his career path.
Last summer, Koumas was looking to build on an encouraging end to the previous season with the under-18s as the then 16-year-old made a consistent breakthrough from the bench as an attacking midfielder.
But as he prepared for his first full campaign in the age group, a lack of striking options saw him surprisingly employed as an emergency centre-forward in two friendlies before being asked to remain in the position for the U18 Premier League North season opener at home to Middlesbrough.
Koumas – the son of former Tranmere Rovers and Wales international midfield Jason Koumas – responded by scoring four goals, the catalyst for a hugely encouraging 12 months that saw him on Saturday jet off with Jurgen Klopp’s first team as part of a 32-man squad for the pre-season training camp in Germany.
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