Column: Inglethorpe proud of Ibe displays

I would like to start this new Academy column by saying how proud we all are at the Academy to see Jordon Ibe getting his first team opportunity. It has been a huge boost for everybody.

Jordon has followed a different path to someone like Raheem Sterling, who we felt could go straight into the first team squad. Jordon's experiences on loan with Birmingham City and Derby County have given him confidence and the experience to play in our first team.

Jordon is a genuinely lovely lad and he thoroughly deserves his chance. In saying that, Jordon would be the first to admit his career is only just starting and he knows how important it is to keep working hard and improving.

I would also like to pay tribute to the support I have received in my role as academy director from Brendan Rodgers and the Liverpool owners. I have to say I am thoroughly enjoying the challenge and I'm grateful to the club for giving me this fantastic opportunity.

The most important thing is the Academy feels very supported by the owners and there's a huge buzz around the place when they come in. John Henry and Tom Werner have been in with Fenway Sports Group director Mike Gordon and it gives the staff and the players a real buzz because they show a genuine interest in what we are doing.

I know we are on a different site to the first team, but the relationship with Melwood is very strong and that is all down to Brendan. The manager has worked in an academy before and he has empathy. He knows how hard it is to try and produce players and offer support to families and the children.

Whether it be Brendan, Colin Pascoe, Mike Marsh or John Achterberg, they all have a huge interest in what we are doing here and that is so important. I have also received great support from Dave Fallows, Michael Edwards and Barry Hunter.

First and foremost, I'm still a coach and I still go out and coach with the U21s and also take day-release coaching sessions with the U12s, U13s and U14s. I take the U6 squad on a Friday and do sessions with the U10s and U11s. It's pointless just being sat behind the desk.

As an academy director the main thing for me is to link in with the players. So the best way to do that is to work with them on the field. We have got some lovely talents here at the Academy and I thoroughly enjoy working with them. I am also very fortunate to work with some great staff. It's very much a team effort here in Kirkby.

Saturday sees us take our U18s and U16s teams to Finch Farm to face Merseyside rivals Everton in the mini-derby. There is a real buzz in the air as the lads can't wait for this one. No matter what age group, this is a great game to be involved in.

I watched our U9s team play Everton recently and let me tell you it was just as tasty as when you see the first team play. There is such a tradition and history around this fixture and it's terrific the young players and the parents respect that. Of course it's something we want to win, but the most important three points is always the first team derby.

Next week, we take the Academy lads back into Europe as our U19s team face Benfica in the last 16 of the UEFA Youth League. We will go to Portugal for two days. We will train here first at the Academy on Monday and then fly out. It was a fantastic experience when we were travelling with the first team on their private charter flight but we are back to EasyJet now and we can't wait for the trip.

It's an incredible opportunity for some of the young lads. We will be without Sheyi Ojo, who of course has gone to Wigan on loan, and Jordan Rossiter and Ryan Kent are also out injured, so the opportunity will arise for other players. The lads have done terrifically well to get to this stage of the competition, and although we know Benfica will be a difficult game, if we go with the right plan and the right attitude, then we are more than capable of getting a good result.

I've really enjoyed the UEFA Youth League experience. It has been nice to have been involved from a coaching capacity as well as my day-to-day role, and I think a few players have come of age in this tournament. Lads like Joe Maguire, Dan Cleary and Corey Whelan have done ever so well at the back and we know going forward we have some good players who can cause problems.

The lads shouldn't have any fear because they are used to going away now and playing games in Europe. If they apply themselves and don't think they are playing against Benfica's first team, but realise it's their youth team, then I think they will give a good account of themselves.

I would also like to pay tribute to the help I have received at the Academy from Steve Heighway. Regular viewers on LFCTV may well have seen Steve back in Kirkby watching our games and for us it is an honour to have him here.

I was very keen to invite him in here as he has a wealth of knowledge. He is also a very genuine and a very humble person and he genuinely is a fountain of knowledge, and there are not many people who have seen what I call complete cycles in youth development.

He knows what Steven Gerrard was like as a very young player and saw him come through to the first team, plus a host of other top players as well. So, if we are trying to improve as an Academy here, Steve deserves to come in here and work with us.

He is very giving of his time and we are all very grateful to him. First and foremost, he is a Liverpool legend and the Kop sing his name during every game, so to have him around and listen to his advice I think it's very important for the staff and there's a lot to learn.