Whelan in awe of Liverpool 'new signing' after footage emerges of Elliott
Noel Whelan has heaped praise on Harvey Elliott after footage emerged of the Liverpool winger after a pre-season fixture against Athletic Bilbao.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Leeds and Middlesbrough striker claimed the 18-year-old has been "like a new signing" for Jurgen Klopp's side this summer.
As captured by Goal correspondent Neil Jones (August 8th), Elliott was the last player to leave the pitch after Liverpool's 1-1 draw with Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.
The attacking midfielder stayed back to applaud a 75 per cent capacity crowd at Anfield before handing his boots to a young supporter before heading down the tunnel.
Whelan said Elliott, who spent the 2020-21 campaign on loan at Blackburn Rovers, understands what it means to be a Red.
"Elliott has been like a new signing for Liverpool in pre-season," he told Football Insider's Dylan Childs.
"Talk about players you want to have at your club, he is one of them. He is a brilliant young player and a good human being.
"A player who loves his football and is showing great maturity at a young age.
"You are always representing your club and you can see with the way he plays and acts that he understands that. He understands what it means to be a Liverpool player.
"He is loving his life right now and fighting hard to be a part of the first team after a great spell on loan at Blackburn. Elliott is exactly the sort of player you need in and around the club."