As he prepares to bring a young Liverpool squad to Layer Road on Saturday, Reds reserve team boss Gary Ablett is hoping one of his proteges can be a star of the future.

Liverpool's youngsters have won the FA Youth Cup in the past two seasons and Ablett will bring many of those young players to north Essex for the U's next friendly match.

"I think it's important for the club and the fans to see that these kids are being given the chance," he told U's Review earlier this week.

"We used to have players graduating to the first team on a regular basis but you would say that Steven Gerrard was probably the last to come through, so it's about time that we got another one into the first team.

"However, it's a tough task for these lads to make the breakthrough.

"We have told them that it is an achievement to get in the squad of 22 for a first team match, let alone the squad on the matchday itself.

"If you can get into the first team changing room, you have accomplished something.

"The young boys now have to know that it means nothing to play for the reserves, you will never be remembered unless you manage to make in the first team."

With the Reds first team in Hong Kong at present, the U's fans in attendance will get a chance to see some of the best young talent on Merseyside - as well as their own hopefuls for the coming Championship season.

The game kicks off at 3pm at Layer Road and tickets are just £10 for adults and £5 for concessions in the standing areas and £12 and £6 in the seating parts of the ground.

Liverpool fans have sold out their tickets, so it promises to be a good warm-up for the U's supporters as well as the players!

The full interview with Gary Ablett appears in our special edition U's Review magazine on Saturday.