Alex: Academy link to Melwood is thriving

Inglethorpe, who arrived on Merseyside in November 2012, has revealed how Brendan Rodgers and his coaching staff are constantly enquiring about the development of the club's youngsters.

Rodgers, who takes a keen interest in each of the Reds' scholars, holds regular discussions with Inglethorpe and his coaches, getting to know the players and keeping tabs on their potential.

Inglethorpe explained how regular dialogue between the two camps ensures there is a constant flow of players from Kirkby to West Derby - and that the youngsters are prepared for when the call comes from Melwood.

"The relationship between ourselves and Melwood is still really strong," he told Bleacher Report. "We have daily communication around which players will train with the first team, and we do our best to mirror their schedule so we are able to accommodate any last-minute changes of plan.

"I speak with our manager regularly on players and philosophy. He is quite unique in that he knows the names of all the scholars in our system and often asks how certain individuals are progressing.

"The first-team staff are equally supportive with the Academy. John Achterberg, Mike Marsh and Colin Pascoe are all frequent visitors to games at the Academy.

"You will often find them all watching any game from the formative age groups right the way through to the U21s. Their expertise and opinion is both valuable to staff and inspirational to the younger players."

Inglethorpe arrived at the club from Tottenham Hotspur's youth set-up two years ago, having spent six years helping to nurture young talents at White Hart Lane.

In August 2014, he progressed to his current position of academy director - and while the former Watford midfielder now fulfills more of an all-encompassing role, Inglethorpe insists he still maintains a hands-on approach.

"I am still on the training pitches every day working across all the age groups from U21 to U6," insisted the 43-year-old. "The main difference is that now I am not responsible for any particular team.

"It gives me a great opportunity to get to know all of our players, and the pathway that is best suited to them.

"I am very fortunate to be surrounded by a lot of talented staff both on and off the pitch, which makes it easier for me to try and find the right balance between working with the players and dealing with the issues surrounding the day-to-day running of the Academy."

He added: "I'm finding that I'm having more interaction with our players now across all the different age groups. It's been good for me to find out more about the younger players in our Academy.

"Much of coaching is actually hidden. I feel that you need to earn the right to coach someone. They need to trust what you are saying and believe in the advice before it's actually offered.

"Most people in life only respond to a critique of themselves or their work if the person offering the advice has found ways of earning their respect. This of course takes time and effort, but is so worthwhile because without it, the whole coaching on the grass becomes too hit and miss.

"I also work with the coaches regularly. My role is to support them in delivering our philosophy in their own particular way. It's important to retain your identity as a coach, and to think for yourself as opposed to becoming a pastiche of someone else's work."