Rio Ngumoha is one of only a handful of Academy players to have travelled for Liverpool’s Far East tour
Rio Ngumoha of Liverpool during a training session at Kai Tak Sports Park in Hong Kong(Image: Nikki Dyer – LFC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
There was a twinkle in the eye along to go with the smile that has become a permanent feature in the last week or so. But while Rio Ngumoha may have been somewhat tongue-in-cheek, his response when asked about his goal in the friendly win over Stoke City at the weekend says much about his self-belief.
“It was my first goal and definitely many more to come!” he quipped. “I was just happy to get the first one out of the way. Now let’s hopefully push on and work harder.”
Ngumoha was speaking after a training session in Hong Kong, where he is one of only a handful of younger players to have been called up by Arne Slot for the Far East tour.
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It continues a meteoric rise through the ranks for the left winger, who is still more than a month shy of his 17th birthday – shortly after which he is expected to sign his first professional contract at Liverpool – and has spent less than a year a club having been snapped up from Chelsea.
As well as scoring the fourth goal in the 5-0 romp over Stoke, Ngumoha also started the opening pre-season friendly at Preston North End the previous weekend and delivered an impressive performance, not least when playing a key role in helping create Conor Bradley’s opener.
For good reason did Ngumoha make his debut for the Liverpool first team before he featured at under-21 level having taken little time to impress with the U18s and then an U19 team in the UEFA Youth League.
The teenager posted an encouraging display when becoming the second-youngest debutant in club history starting the FA Cup third-round win over Accrington Stanley in January, having already made the bench for the League Cup quarter-final win at Southampton the previous month.
Indeed, Ngumoha training regularly with the first team during the second half of last season. This pre-season, though, has thus far also seen minutes to go along with the hard work.
“Training with the best team in the world, the players that you get to train with, you learn from them and you really test yourself against them,” he said. “It has been very good.
“It’s like every kid’s dream. Amazing, really. Training here in Hong Kong, it’s a beautiful place. The sessions are intense and tough but as a footballer you love training, you love playing on the pitch every day, so it’s been very good.”
Ngumoha, though, has his feet firmly on the ground and acknowledges time is very much on his side. Liverpool have no plans at present to loan out the teenager and instead believe his development would be best served continuing at the AXA Training Centre with both the first team and the U21s.
And speaking to liverpoolfc.com, the youngster said: “Patience is key. I don’t want to rush anything. I’m young. Just keep working hard, pushing hard and just showing the manager what I can really do, and affect the team.
“They really help the young players – especially me, Trey (Nyoni). They help us really settle in. (Mohamed) Salah was one of my role models growing up obviously, so it’s really big learning from him.
“Everyone is really professional and you can see why they’re at the top. They’re always thinking about football, recovery, little things like eating right. So I definitely can learn a lot from them.”
And in the meantime, the message from Ngumoha is clear. “I just keep on smiling and working hard,” he said. “When I play football it makes me happy.”