Wales manager Craig Bellamy could not speak higher of Liverpool’s academy star Lewis Koumas after his rise to the first team.
Koumas has become a regular for his nation as well as a breaking into the starting line-up for the Reds under Andoni Iraola.
Alongside the highly-rated Rio Ngumoha and Trey Nyoni, who both started on Wednesday night in the Champions League, the 21-year-old has been rewarded with increased gametime this term.
So far this season under Iraola, Koumas has been handed his Premier League and European debut, playing 13 times already.
He has made seven top flight appearances for Liverpool, starting five times in all competitions, scoring and assisting one goal.
The forward spent the last two campaigns out on loan with Stoke City and Birmingham City, but he is now a key member of the Reds’ squad at Anfield.
And after another international call-up for the upcoming break, Wales boss Bellamy has piled praised on the youngster.
Bellamy tips Koumas for the top
Bellamy told talkSPORT in his press conference on Wednesday: “We saw it in the summer with us, when we brought him on.
“We always felt that Koumas has got all the attributes to be a really top player and obviously he hit the ground running in pre-season.
“The gametime is had is good game time and it’s only going to help us.
“From the period of when he played for us, going back to Liverpool and now leading into these games, he’s had good game time.”
The Wales manager added: “I have to be honest, the type of forward he is, the intensity he plays at I adore, it’s like if you could send me a forward, it’s him.
“He’s the type of player I adore. He dips in, dips out, looks to stretch, willing to get on the ball at any occasion.
“I honestly feel Liverpool are handling him incredibly well which is going to definitely benefit our country.
“So I’m really positive on the Koumas front at the moment.”
What else has Bellamy said?
Bellamy spoke very highly of Liverpool’s up-and-coming star Koumas, but he was also asked about another name in the news.
Scott Parker was appointed as the new West Ham manager on Wednesday and the ex-Hammer thinks it’s a perfect pick.
“I think it’s a really good appointment,” Bellamy said.
“I don’t like seeing a manager lose their role…you never feel comfortable with it, but we understand the reality of the world we live in.
“They’ve made a change and I look at Scott and it’s a real smart appointment, it make sense, and this is from the outside looking in.
“He’s a person whose been in that situation before, in similar circumstances with parachute payments, relegated from the Premier League and morale is a bit down.
“He was a brilliant player and an even better human being. He will grab everyone together, the players will adore him.
“The insight of playing for West Ham, it’s a special club. You don’t realise how big they are until you go to them.
“He’s been there and I see that as a huge advantage.”
