Brendan Rodgers set to hand striker Samed Yesil Liverpool debut in Europa League

Teenage striker Samed Yesil looks set to be handed his Liverpool debut by manager Brendan Rodgers in Thursday's UEFA Europa League group game against Young Boys.

The 18-year-old German forward, who moved to Merseyside from Bayer Leverkusen last month, is likely to start with a number of senior players being rested ahead of Sunday's Barclays Premier League clash against Manchester United at Anfield.

Liverpool were unable to replace Andy Carroll, who joined West Ham on loan, before the transfer window shut, meaning Yesil could face a swift promotion from the reserves.

"Yesil will certainly be fast-tracked," Rodgers told the Liverpool Echo.

"He will be involved in the Europa League game.

"I watched him play against England Under-19s during the international break and he scored two terrific goals and set up another."

Rodgers also thinks the rise of teenage winger Raheem Sterling has boosted the confidence of the club's academy players.

"The biggest thing for young players now is that the introduction of Raheem has given even the seven- and eight-year olds the one thing in life you want - hope.

"Every young academy player, every parent or guardian has got hope that a young player will play at Liverpool.

"I saw it last week after moving a lot of the young players up to Melwood with it being international week. You could see it in their attitude. They had a spring in their step.

"They feel that they have got a chance and they will get that. There is nothing better than when you see a young kid come through. There will be that chance for Yesil and one or two other boys over these period of months now."

PA