Rodgers: New deals show our unity
Brendan Rodgers today spoke of his delight at the news Andre Wisdom had signed a new long-term contract with Liverpool – and insisted he's as equally as pleased as he was when Luis Suarez put pen to paper last summer.
After making 14 first-team appearances so far this season, the 19-year-old committed his future to the Reds by inking a new contract at Melwood on Wednesday morning.
Wisdom follows in the footsteps of not only Suarez, but also the likes of Daniel Agger, Martin Skrtel, Raheem Sterling, Jonjo Shelvey, Suso and Brad Jones in signing on with Liverpool since Rodgers arrived at the club.
And the manager believes the willingness of so many key players to pen new contracts demonstrates the unity amongst the squad.
Rodgers told Liverpoolfc.com: "I'm delighted for Andre because he's a young player that's really impressed me with his attitude and football qualities over the course of these first six months and he's grabbed his opportunity.
"It's great news again for the Academy and the young players that are getting the opportunity and taking it. It's great news for all the good work going on there.
"I'm delighted he's committed and sees his future here at the football club and the hard work starts again for him.
"It's a really exciting time for Andre and all the young players at the club. I'm as delighted as I was when Luis Suarez signed a new deal in the summer because every player that commits is a symbol of our togetherness and our unity here - and he obviously wants to be a part of that."
The 'hard work starts now' message is one Rodgers will emphasise to Wisdom, much as he has to the other young players who have signed new deals this season.
Rodgers added: "It's important they have a plan going forward and then the responsibility is theirs to implement the ideas of the coaches and to show that self-discipline to improve.
"For Andre the message is to continue to work hard and learn from the great coaches and the people that are around you and make sure that your next contract is signed here at Liverpool."
Wisdom is one of several young players Rodgers has entrusted with regular first-team action this term.
The likes of Sterling, Suso, Shelvey, Jon Flanagan, Jack Robinson, Samed Yesil and Jerome Sinclair have also figured for the senior side - and Rodgers believes this can provide other fledgling players with hope of making the step up.
"I think it's important because for the players and the representatives, they have to feel there's going to be opportunity - and the single biggest thing is also hope," explained the boss.
"Players need to feel they have hope of progressing and I suppose if you're on the outside looking in you'll see Liverpool Football Club as an opportunity - as a young talent, if you have the right personality and the qualities to improve then you're going to get a chance."
The progression of a number of players through the club's Academy ranks into the first team has been a source of satisfaction for fans - and Rodgers shares their pleasure.
He said: "I think every club is the same, they like to see their own come through - players that committed to the club when they were youngsters.
"That's something that's exciting for supporters to see. They see young boys come in and develop and then grow into hopefully icons for the club that produced them.
"The exciting thing going forward for our club is that I've come in here with a specific vision to an order of how to work, but also part of that is for young players and they will be fundamental."