Liverpool youngster Ben Woodburn has been tipped for stardom by just about everyone who has seen him play, and it’s fair to say that comparison’s with Michael Owen are certainly merited.

But when legend’s such as Ian Rush speak about you in that manner, you simply have to sit back and wonder just how far the player could go in his career.

But Rush hasn’t just compared the Welsh international to Owen, he has gone a step further and said he possesses more skill than the former Balon d’or winner.

Owen had an illustrious Liverpool career, rising to fame at such a young age. At just 19 he was already making huge movements in the footballing world, winning the Premier League Golden Boot and playing for England in the 1998 World Cup.

Woodburn, 18, has already made his name on the international stage, scoring the winner for Wales in a World Cup qualifying match against Austria earlier this year, but his chances at Anfield have been limited, and Rush says the starlet must go out on loan.



“He’s a bit like Michael Owen,” Rush told the Mirror.

“He’s quick, but he’s got a bit more skill than Michael.

“He won’t score as many goals as Michael.

“He’s a bit like myself when I was a youngster, he can play with both feet.”

“You can’t go a year without playing some top class football.

“It’ll be interesting to see what he does in the next six months.

“I’d love to see him go out on loan in January in the Premier League, I’ve known him since he was 12 or 13. All he wants to do is play football.

“He needs a challenge, whether it’s with the first team, he needs to play competitive football. It’d be a good thing for him [to go out on loan].”