Liverpool academy striker Rhian Brewster has made "outstanding steps" but will probably have to wait until next season for his Premier League debut despite glowing praise from Jurgen Klopp.
Brewster, 17, was poised to become the first player born in the year 2000 to play in the Premier League after being named in the squad to face Crystal Palace.
However, he did not come on in the 2-1 defeat, and with Daniel Sturridge back in training after a sore hip his chances of being included for Monday's match at Watford have reduced.
On Friday, Brewster was named in the England squad for the European Under-17 Championships in Croatia.
With England's first match scheduled for May 4 and their last group game due to be played on May 10, the likelihood is that he will not be around for the end of Liverpool's campaign.
He made his first start for Liverpool's U18s this season before being promoted to the U23s in January.
And Klopp said: "Rhian made outstanding steps in the last few months.
"The Talent Group [the academy's most promising youngsters] are training one time a week here at Melwood and I can see them then.
"I've known him for probably more than a year and how it is with boys at his age, they grow and that's good.
"He is physically stronger, a wonderfully-skilled boy, real striker, good finisher, and has a fantastic work ethic.
"But if all players are fit in the squad, then he will not be in the squad at the moment. Of course not -- why should he?
"He's 17 years old now and already plays U23s. That's a wonderful step for him, the next step in his development.
"He was on the bench last week because we thought he deserved it and we could use him in the right moment.
"The game was not for this but it doesn't mean that it will not happen in the future. He's on a very good path."
Brewster's involvement last weekend was a surprise to some, not least the youngster himself.
Klopp said: "I said to him that he was in the squad and did he have everything he needed and he said: 'I have a washbag but I don't have a suit'. No problem -- I don't like the suit too much.
"He has a lot of respect in the squad. Nobody thought: 'Who is this?' They know him because he is difficult to play in training sessions."