Column: Our pride in Sheyi and Jerome

This week we saw Jerome seal a youth loan move to Wigan Athletic, where he teamed up with Sheyi, who is doing really well. It's easy to forget that these two players could still be playing for the U18 team and it's something that makes everyone at the Academy really proud. It should serve as an inspiration for our Academy players to look at the likes of Sheyi and see how far he has come now to where he was 14 months ago. For these boys to be playing regular football at Championship level on loan just shows you what is possible. What we do at the Academy is create the right pathway for each individual. We want to give them the best chance possible to progress and it's not just about keeping them back to help our teams keep winning games. We always do what we think is best for the kids.

At U18 level we are playing a very similar system to the first team, using three centre-backs. In youth development I think it's very important for the players to experience different systems. The manager has proven that he is not afraid to change the system so therefore it's important that we expose our boys to playing different systems, so that if one day they get a first-team call then they will be comfortable playing in whatever position or formation the manager asks of them. We are trying to give our young players a better experience to make them better all-round footballers. Results may have suffered recently but we actually think we are winning in terms of their long-term development.

I must say our Academy director Alex Inglethorpe deserves a lot of credit for the fantastic mentality we have at the Academy, which is in place throughout the club and that is down to our first-team manager Brendan Rodgers. The communication we have from right across the Academy is fantastic. We all sit in the same office and we have regular contact and meetings with each other. I think that's a crucial factor in developing not just the right type of footballers but the right type of people. For me to be able to be part of the U21 squad, sitting alongside Michael Beale on the bench, is fantastic. That doesn't happen at every club and Alex has created that, which as I said comes from the manager. We are all very fortunate to work in such a special environment.

When I left Crewe Alexandra to join Liverpool in September 2013 I knew what a unique place this was. I had a very special job at Crewe and it's a unique football club that I had been at all of my life. I have been fortunate to work with one of the best developers in terms of coaching kids this country has ever had in Dario Gradi, and Steve Holland who is now the first-team coach at Chelsea. I decided to take the step when Liverpool came calling and I have not been disappointed. All the values and the ethos Crewe had is very similar to Liverpool and I consider myself very fortunate to work with Alex and Brendan, because he takes such a big interest in the youth department. Liverpool's name speaks for itself but the people make the club and it's got special people working for it.

I must take this opportunity to also mention the fantastic help and support I get on a daily basis working with the U18 squad from Mike Garrity, Neil Edwards, Scott Mason, Liam Kershaw and Jack Ade. They are great people to work with. Mike is a big Liverpool fan and has been at the club for so long he knows this club inside out, back to front, and he is so passionate about the boys' development and he loves getting out on the pitch working with the players. We are also very grateful to former Liverpool player Rob Jones, who has given us fantastic support and guidance and a lot of his time. Rob works alongside Robbie Fowler and Steve McManaman, who are an inspiration to our young players and it is an absolute privilege to work with these people.

This weekend we host Leicester City at the Academy in our second play-off game and we will look to get back to winning ways after our defeat at Sunderland last week, but it won't be easy against a good Leicester side who made the FA Youth Cup semi-finals. Apart from the scoreline I actually thought our performance at Sunderland was very encouraging. We were good in possession and created a number of chances and were the dominant team, but we ended up losing 3-1.

We have had a new approach to the team for these last six games left in the season. Last weekend at Sunderland, four U16 players started the game and I'm anticipating that to be a similar number if not more on Saturday against Leicester. What we are trying to do is give some of the younger boys more experience so they are ready for next season at U18 level. Results could suffer a little bit but we think giving these young boys a chance now is the best thing for their development long-term.

With some of the players in the U21 squad going out on loan and injuries as well, that means there is more opportunities for some of the lads in our group to move up. There is a difference between U16 and U18 football. They only play 80-minute games at U16 level and there is a difference physically at U18 level. You get to find out more about these lads and the more you work with them the better relationship you will have with them and you also learn how to make the boys tick and work on their strengths and how to improve them for the future.