‘We see a much better player’ – Liverpool boss Beard pleased with Silcock development | OneFootball

Liverpool manager Matt Beard says that he has been pleased with the development of young defender Hannah Silcock this season.

The 19-year-old centre-back is currently enjoying a successful season-long loan spell in the Barclays Women’s Championship with Blackburn Rovers.

Silcock has contributed to a record-breaking season for Rovers in the second tier and Liverpool boss Beard says that the club and player are reaping the rewards of the loan arrangement.

“Hannah still trains with us on a Tuesday and a Wednesday and we are seeing the benefit of her playing football week in, week out,” Beard said when speaking to WSL Full-Time in a Liverpool press conference.

“Last season, Hannah was finishing her A-Levels and it was about getting her physically developed to be a professional football player. This year, it has been about building the minutes.

“Over the last few years, she has had one or two issues injury-wise; when she played, she would cramp up over 60-70 minutes. We’ve worked incredibly hard to get her into the position that she’s in now.

“She’s a fantastic player and could probably be in our team now, but for the long-term development of Hannah, this has been a great experience for her to be able to play week in, week out. When we see her on a Tuesday and a Wednesday, tactically, we see a much better player because she’s going up against good teams. We are seeing the improvement, so we are really pleased with how the loan deal has worked out for us so far.”

Liverpool have made excellent use of the loan system in recent years. Last season saw another young defender, Lucy Parry, go out on loan to SWPL1 club Hibernian. She made 29 league appearances for The Hibees before competing for first team minutes back at Liverpool this season. Beard believes that Silcock will be in a position to follow in Parry’s footsteps at Liverpool next season.

He said “One hundred percent, [she will be competing for a place in the first team next season]. It’s exactly what we did with Lucy Parry last year; she went to Hibernian, she played right-back, left-back, midfield at times. She left home and had to fend for herself in that sense. That loan deal worked out really well and you’ve seen Pazza’s performances this year when she’s played.”

Silcock has three games remaining during her loan spell at Blackburn Rovers. Their current points tally of 29 is the club’s highest to date in the Barclays Women’s Championship.