Liverpool academy chief Frank McParland admits John Flanagan's emergence has come as a surprise.
In his column for liverpoolfc.tv, McParland wrote: "John Flanagan gave an accomplished performance in our 3-0 win over Roberto Mancini's side, rarely putting a foot wrong in what many are hailing as the finest bow from a right-back since Rob Jones kept Ryan Giggs quiet way back in 1991.
"It was a great moment for everyone here at the Academy, from the players and staff right through to his family and Flanno himself.
"He's been in and around the squad for a while now and it's great that so many of our lads have been involved. He's come on so much as a player and that's testament to his desire to improve as well as the work of the coaching staff who have helped him grow as a player.
"When I returned to the club two years ago he certainly wouldn't have been one that I thought would go on to play in our first team. He was very aggressive and was too eager to dive into a challenge. He didn't take care with the ball and wasn't particularly fit at the time. His understanding wasn't that great and I just put him down as an 'okay' player.
"I've spoken to him a lot over the last two years and I can see that the work Rodolfo Borrell has done with him has had a massive effect.
"Rodolfo was with him every day drilling ways he could improve into him. He was running through how to pass, when to pass, positioning and when to overlap. Between him and Rodolfo we have come out with a player who has played a game in the first-team."
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