Need for Ngog

McAteer: backs young striker

I think he'll have a part to play next season because, as we know, since Torres has been at Liverpool we haven't had a full season out of him.

Jason McAteer
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• Liverpool

Jason McAteer is confident David Ngog still has a major role to play with Liverpool this season.

The French striker's Anfield career appeared to be over as speculation linking him with a move away from the club intensified over the summer.

Newly promoted West Bromwich Albion were amongst a list of possible suitors looking to take the 21-year-old on loan.

However, a number of impressive performances in pre-season coupled with a brace in Thursday night's 2-0 win over FK Rabotnicki in the Reds' Europa League qualifier has seen him force his way into Roy Hodgson's plans.

The former Paris Saint-Germain player, who scored eight goals in 37 appearances for Liverpool last season, bore the brunt of the fans' frustration after a bitterly disappointing campaign, but McAteer beleives there is more to come from him.

"He had a tricky time last season," he told Sky Sports News.

"He had big boots to fill when Fernando Torres was injured and obviously with the disappointing season that Liverpool had he did come under some severe criticism, which was unfortunate because he's still only a baby and he's still learning his trade and finding his feet.

"But he seems to have put a bit of weight on and he looked like he handled himself really well last night. He got the two goals and that will have done him the world of good.

"I think he'll have a part to play next season because, as we know, since Torres has been at Liverpool we haven't had a full season out of him."

The tie with FK Rabotnicki was Hodgson's first competitive match in charge of Liverpool and McAteer believes his team acquitted themselves well, despite missing several first team players.

He said: "It was a potential banana skin for Hodgson and his team but it was a job well done.

"He was obviously missing ten of his first team from the World Cup, but with a good blend of youth and experience, they got the job done and it was a good result for Liverpool."

Worthy

Brazilian midfielder, Lucas, captained the side in the absence of Steven Gerrard. Like Ngog the 23-year-old is by no means a fan favourite on Merseyside, but McAteer believes he too is worthy of a place in Hodgson's squad.

He continued: "I'd keep Lucas. I think we're resigned to the fact that we're going to lose (Javier) Mascherano now and obviously Lucas can play in that position.

"Because of the way Liverpool played last season and the way they finished the season a few players are always going to come under some severe criticism.

"David Ngog obviously got it and Lucas seemed to get it all season. But I watched a lot of Liverpool last season and he's one of those players that will always go looking for the ball.

"He never shirks a challenge, he always makes himself available and when you've got 45,000 people at Anfield screaming at you it can become very difficult, but he showed loads of maturity last year.

"He's got that season under his belt now and that will give him experience. Being made captain last night is a great honour for him and obviously Hodgson seems him in his plans.

"I don't know if he will feature as much as he did last season but he's certainly a player I would keep in the squad."