Liverpool U21s head coach Rob Page believes Jayden Danns has all of the attributes to succeed Harry Kane as England’s No. 9 in the future.
The 19-year-old has scored three goals in 10 appearances since making his debut for the Reds in a 4-1 Premier League win over Luton in February 2024, and is regarded as one of the most exciting talents to emerge from the AXA Training Centre in recent years.
But the forward, son of former Crystal Palace, Leicester and Tranmere midfielder Neill Danns, has seen his progress blighted by injuries in recent years.
The England U19s international is currently sidelined with a serious hamstring injury suffered in the U21s’ 3-2 defeat to Ipswich Town at the end of last month.
However, Page, who succeeded Barry Lewtas in the summer, believes Danns has the talent to become a fully-fledged international for the Three Lions later in his career.
Speaking to talkSPORT, Page said: “I’ve got Jayden Danns here who’s probably going to be the next England No. 9 in years to come.”
Danns, though, isn’t the only member of the academy to have caught Page’s eye since he moved to Merseyside earlier this year.
Of course, it is no surprise that the other player is 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha, who announced himself to the world by scoring a last-gasp winner against Newcastle in August.
But despite both players featuring for the first team a handful of times in 2025, Page has hailed the “exemplary” attitude both players show when turning out for the U21s.
“Their attitude is exemplary, they’re a credit to their families and first class,” added the 51-year-old.
“Many kids in academies you see, they get carried away. But for some reason here I think it’s their upbringing and the influence of the academy, they’re grounded and very humble people.”
In addition to Danns and Ngumoha, Page has worked with a string of talented players since joining the Reds in June and is loving every second of the “incredible” task he’s taken up.
“I’m absolutely loving it,” said Page.
“It’s a change from working with senior players but I was in this role with the Welsh U21s before stepping up.
“I just feel for me from a personal point of view I was fast-tracked to that senior level, so for me to take a step backwards at an unbelievable football club.
“I’ve always seen Liverpool as a special club but now having worked from the inside it’s exceeded my expectations of what the club is like.
“The majority [of youth players] are local and when you see the academy set up and the work and investment that’s going into finding the best young players and bringing them through is incredible.”
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