18 July 2023 , 06:30
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Lewis Koumas has admitted he is relishing the pressure of training with the Liverpool first-team squad after being named in their pre-season tour of Germany.
Koumas, son of ex-Premier League star Jason, has been selected by Jurgen Klopp in his 32-man squad for their camp in the Baden-Wurttemberg region. The 17-year-old is among several academy graduates in the squad as the Reds prepare for friendlies against Karlsruher and Greuther Furth.
Having been a regular at Anfield for a number of years watching the senior side in action, Koumas, who was part of the Under 18s side last season, has been handed the chance to train alongside them. It's an opportunity he is loving and the forward is hoping he can impress while with Klopp and the rest of his now-teammates.
"I'm buzzing about it. To be honest, it's been the dream since I was a kid to come up with the first team," he told Liverpoolfc.com.
"Honestly being here it literally feels like I'm behind a screen. Seeing players I look up to – for example, Luis Diaz, I remember watching him at Anfield last season and now I'm behind him. It just feels crazy, to be honest.
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"I got called in with the 21s a week before I was meant to be in, so I was on my holidays. I trained with the first team a couple of times in the week and then the night before I got called up to say I was going.
"When I got told it was just pure excitement, but as it built closer the nerves started to kick in. There's no hiding place, I think. If you lose the ball or make a couple of bad decisions, they will tell you – but I'm doing well."
(Getty Images)Koumas has been training with the likes of Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk, who were all part of Liverpool's Champions League winning squad, this week. The youngster has taken great pride from those he is training with but is determined to learn and improve from the best at the club.
"Obviously to come and learn from some of the best players in the world is a good opportunity to be in and around Champions League winners," he continued.
"I feel for me, I've got to come here and show the manager what I can do. And if I do get the opportunity to make my debut, obviously, then it's to try to score a goal.
"My first-team debut – that's definitely what I'm looking for. This might be the only opportunity I get, so I need to make sure I take it."