In the latest column from the club's youth base, Academy director Frank McParland tells us why Kenny Dalglish's Kirkby office compares to Franco Baresi and offers his reaction to the draw for the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup.

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I'd like to start this week's column by saying a big congratulations to Kenny Dalglish. 

The man is a living legend and someone I have come to know very well during my time here at the Academy.

He lives and breathes football, so much so that if anyone can help steer our first-team's season back on course, then it is him. I've no doubt he will be a success in the job. Whether he remains in the hot-seat beyond the summer, only time will tell but I'm certain he will ensure the club move forward in one, united direction.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, it's been something of a whirlwind week for everyone associated with the club after it was announced Roy Hodgson would be leaving his post last Saturday.

We were all at Anfield preparing for our Youth Cup clash with Crystal Palace when the news filtered through.

First of all, I was sad to hear that Roy had gone. I hope he bounces back sooner rather than later.

On the other hand, it gave everyone a huge lift to hear that Kenny would be taking over.

He knows everything about the club and it is not just his iconic status, nor the fact he has successfully managed Liverpool before that made him the stand-out candidate in my opinion.

It is the fact he knows everything about EVERY player at this club. From the first-team right down to which eight-year-old scores goals for fun. He is aware of all the talent we have at various stages of their development and that is obviously of massive importance as far as we are concerned.

Quite a few people have asked me if I've had a chance to speak to Kenny given the fact he's had such a hectic week. The simple answer is that I have spoken to him every day.

Whether it has been on the phone or in meetings with him and Damien Comolli, he's been keen to get all levels of the club together to discuss both players at the Academy and in the first-team.

He's just getting settled into his new office at Melwood now but there's no way we'll be using the one he vacated here in Kirkby.

His name plaque is still there and we hope that he may pop back to use it from time to time. Having him around gives everyone a huge lift.

Teams have been known to retire shirt numbers in honour of their great servants, like AC Milan did with Franco Baresi's No.6. If that relates to offices too, then that will almost certainly remain unoccupied! He's welcome back here any time.

The news of the King's return to the dugout has pretty much dominated everything over the past seven days, but it's been business as usual for us here at the Academy.

The 3-1 extra-time win over Crystal Palace in the FA Youth Cup at Anfield may have been overshadowed slightly, but it was still a hugely significant moment for Rodolfo Borrell and his staff.

The lads did a great job in getting the best out of our youngsters against a very good Palace side and we thoroughly deserved to progress to round five of the competition.

We now face either Derby County or Southend United in what is another home draw for us.

To be honest, that is all I could ask for. I didn't really care who we got but I think the boys need to learn about what it means to play at Anfield and if they keep getting 90 minutes under their belts - or 120 like last Saturday - then it can only benefit them.

At the end of the day it is all about them progressing to the first-team and playing on that pitch week in, week out. They need to know about the responsibility that comes with playing for this club and they can only learn that by performing in front of large crowds at Anfield.

That's not to say we haven't done our homework on our opponents. I've actually been to watch Southend myself, so I can offer Rodolfo some thoughts on their strengths and weaknesses. One or two of our scouts have seen Derby too, so we will be well prepared.

First up though, we return to the FA Premier Academy League today against Bolton, a side we beat 6-0 earlier in the campaign on their own patch.

Hopefully we can reproduce that type of performance in Kirkby and continue our fine start to the New Year.

We could well have a new face on show too. Jason Banton, a winger who has played for both Arsenal and Blackburn, has joined until the end of the season.

He is a player I have followed closely and one that I feel can add something to our U18 side. He is in our squad today and he is likely to feature at some point against the Trotters.

Frank was speaking to Paul Hassall