AcademyInterview: Finn Inglethorpe on strong start, wondergoal and captain responsibility
The striker has scored five goals in the opening three league fixtures – including a double in a 4-2 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend.
His full range of ability was on show, finishing off a fine team move for the first with an instinctive swivel and shot, before confirming the win deep into injury time with an outrageous effort from near the centre-circle.
His strong return from an injury sustained towards the end of last season has also included being entrusted with the armband by head coach Simon Wiles.
He formed an impressive attacking first-half combination at Wolves with AJ Yeguo and Erik Farkas, the latter also getting on the scoresheet, before both were replaced at half-time due to knocks.
Speaking to Liverpoolfc.com, Inglethorpe said: "It was a cagey game to start with but once we found a rhythm it started to flow and that's what we want.
"Erik and AJ are both top players, we know they're capable of something special. We would have liked to play with them for longer but injuries got in the way. They're top quality."
Wiles has spoken of Inglethorpe as a 'standard-setter' in giving him the armband, with the 17-year-old determined to show it was a good decision.
"I'm getting there, I'm trying to work on it around the training ground and hopefully by the end of the season I'll be a proper captain," Inglethorpe said. "But I'm loving every second of it."
As well as his brace at Wolves, Inglethorpe provided an assist for fellow striker Zak Coxon for the crucial, go-ahead third goal, first winning a corner with a shot sensationally tipped away by the goalkeeper and then finding his partner when the set-piece was delivered.
"I thought the shot was going in and then the 'keeper gets there at the last minute," he recalled. "The corner goes over everyone's head and I've seen Zak. Knowing him as I do, I knew he'd score.
"For the final goal, Luca [Eden] wins a great tackle and he was telling me I should have passed it. I'll have to watch it back and see if it was on.
"But it's mostly instinct which takes over and when I saw the 'keeper off his line, I just hit it.
"The goals are something to work on, 100 per cent, but it was a great fightback from the team and that was important for everyone."
