Liverpool include Irish youngster in Champions League squad

Irish youngster Conor Masterson has been named in Liverpool’s squad for their upcoming Champions League play-off against Hoffenheim.

The 18 year old Dubliner is among a 32-strong party that will travel to Germany for the first leg next Tuesday.

A tall, elegant, ball-playing central defender, Masterson has captained Liverpool’s U18 team as well as the Irish U19s.

Masterson was praised by Jurgen Klopp in February after he was included in the senior team’s mid-season training camp in La Manga. “Conor is one of the next guys,” Klopp said. “He’s fitted in very well.”

He was included in Liverpool’s first-team squad for the FA Cup third round tie with Exeter City in January 2016, and was an unused substitute.

Masterson has been at Liverpool since the age of 13, when he was snapped up from Lucan United.