Mike Marsh believes Andre Wisdom's decision to head straight to the Academy immediately after signing a new contract with Liverpool is indicative of the grounded personalities being instilled into the club's home-grown starlets.

The defender penned a new long-term deal with the Reds in January at Melwood and as the ink was still drying on the papers, he headed back to the club's youth complex in Kirkby to show his gratitude for all the work the coaches and staff there put in during his development.

Marsh told Liverpoolfc.com: "It just shows you the input and work he's done at the Academy with all the coaches in his development. It's nice for him to go back and share his pride at being offered a long-term contract with the first team and thank the people who worked with him.

"It's a very down-to-Earth club and I'd have been surprised if Andre hadn't gone down and thanked people. We've got a great link between the Academy and the first team here at Melwood.

"There are a couple of role models for the Academy lads here - the likes of Andre, Conor Coady, Raheem, Suso, Flanno and Robbo. There are a lot of them.

"We had four lads from the Academy up here training with the group this week, and so there are incentives for them to get up to Melwood - and there are people here who can say to them if you do well and continue going in the right direction daily, there's a chance for them to come up to Melwood permanently."