Liverpool Academy starlet Paul Glatzel is closing in on a return to full fitness and has hailed the inspiration Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has provided him.

Last summer the 19-year-old striker suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury, and has spent nine months in rehab at Melwood.

The forward, who scored 28 goals last term, has said watching Oxlade-Chamberlain’s recovery and confidence having come back from a similar injury has helped inspire him.

Glatzel told Liverpool’s official website: “I quite like to see how he is doing.

“When he plays well or has a good game, it fills me with confidence because I know what he’s been through and I know he’s been out for a long time but he’s been able to bounce back.

“He has been playing well and scoring goals, so I just hope when I get back I can do the same. It’s good to have someone like that to look up to and see they’ve been there and done that. Hopefully I can do that too.

“Agility is pretty much what I need for my game, to be able to turn quickly and change direction. I can see that in Ox’s game, he’s not focusing on the knee problems he’s had in the past.

“He is just playing normally, changing direction smoothly and is doing all he can do and all he needs to do without really having any thoughts about the injury he has had in the past.”