Houlllier - Kirkland can reach the top

Mark Platt

7th Dec 2002 - Latest News

Gerard Houllier believes Chris Kirkland has the potential to become one of the country's top goalkeeper's but warns that it's far too early to be talking about promotion to the full England side

Gerard Houllier believes Chris Kirkland has the potential to become one of the country's top goalkeeper's but warns that it's far too early to be talking about promotion to the full England side.

The under-21 international will make only his sixth first team appearance for Liverpool this afternoon when he replaces Jerzy Dudek for the trip to Charlton. And with the search on to find a long-term successor to David Seaman Kirkland is naturally being touted as a candidate.

"Nobody knows more about Chris's potential than me," claims Houllier, "but we have to be careful with any talk about international call-ups. Yes I believe he has the potential and talent to reach the very top level, but we have to be so very careful.

"He has the potential, but he has to be playing games first. He has to get those games under his belt before he can move on to England level. That is the most important thing now - there is a way he has to travel before arriving at the England team, and there are no short cuts.

"Joe Corrigan, our coach, believes that Chris will be the future of England. What we don't want is to go too far, get too excited and build up too much around him. But he has the chance, and he now has to seize it."

Tagged: kirkland