NewsHannah Silcock signs first professional deal with LFC Women

The academy graduate joined the Reds at the age of eight and has progressed through the ranks to the first team.

Silcock made her senior debut last season playing at centre-back and notched her first start of the current campaign in the victory at Sunderland in the FA Women's Continental Tyres League Cup last weekend.

The 18-year-old also received her first full call-up to the England U19 squad this week for their World Cup qualifiers against Slovenia and Slovakia.

LFC Women manager Matt Beard said: "We're delighted for Hannah; she's an exceptionally talented player and we're really excited about her future in the game.

"It's great we've been able to produce another one of our own players, she's been at the club since U9s and I remember having a picture with her back then!

"She's a very good one-on-one defender, with great physical presence and she's great on the ball - she can drive out with it, she can beat players.

"She's got all the attributes to be a top, top player.

"It's a big year for her, both in her development and educationally. This is a signing for the long term but she's good enough to play in the first team now."

For Silcock, signing her first professional contract with the Reds is the latest milestone in her journey with the club.

She said: "It feels amazing, it's something I've been working towards since I was a kid in the academy and being a Liverpool fan as well just makes it so much better.

"I've been at the club for 10 years, I signed with Matt when I was eight when he was first-team manager, so I've been working towards it all my life and to finally do it is great.

"I'm hoping to play as much as possible, to keep pushing to play in the team and hopefully get more opportunities in the future."

Silcock is not too sure how big an impression she made on her manager a decade ago, but was delighted to hear he was returning to the Reds last season.

"I was excited when I heard he was coming back because I knew he'd given a lot of opportunities to young players in the past," she added.

"He's brilliant, I feel every day I come in I'm learning so much.

"Last season was great, we achieved everything we wanted to achieve but we know this season is going to be a lot harder, so it's all about working hard and staying together as a group."

The youngster is part of a strong group of centre-backs at the club, including captain Niamh Fahey, and she is confident she is in the right place to continue her development.

Silcock continued: "I think the main thing is how they carry themselves on the pitch, their leadership, the way they talk and they're just great people as well so it's really easy to learn from them."