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Charlie Hayes-Green joined Wanderers’ B Team ranks earlier this week after a 12-year association with Liverpool.
The Wirral-born defender has signed a one-year deal at Bolton with the option of a further 12 months.
We caught up with Liverpool Academy reporter Lewis Bower to get the lowdown on the 18-year-old and what he will bring to Matt Craddock’s squad.
How would you sum up his time at Liverpool?
Hayes-Green made his debut for Liverpool U18s as an U16 player on the last day of the 2020/21 season from the bench against Derby. A number of young players made their debut on the same day, which was perhaps foretold in the physical demeanour of some of the young lads.
But that was not the case for the defender who, despite playing against players two years his senior, towered above most on the pitch. And that was evident in his play. While decent on the ball, his height and frame help him aerially to swat away any higher balls.
Entering his scholarship year with Liverpool, the youngster unfortunately needed surgery before the campaign had even begun. It caused him to miss almost an entire season during a key year of development and he was limited to a sole league appearance.
Last season saw an upturn in minutes for Hayes-Green. 13 league appearances, 90 minutes in the FA Youth Cup and a very small U21 cameo represented a much more fruitful season that aided his development and allowed him to show his skillset.
How would you describe him as a player?
During his time at Liverpool, the defender played in the left-sided centre-back role. Naturally dominant in the air, Hayes-Green is measured in his approach while seemingly more of a safe passer, opting for a short ball.
Did his Liverpool exit come as a surprise?
I wouldn’t consider it a surprise that the 18-year-old left Liverpool due to the circumstances around his playing time and the number of young centre-backs Liverpool have around him. It was probably the right thing for the player too - being able maximise his minutes in a change of pace.
Naturally by age, Hayes-Green would be playing U21 football next season which is a huge step-up from playing in the U18 Premier League North.
And finally, how do you think he will fare at Bolton?
Bolton will provide a fantastic platform that allows the defender to develop, and a strong bank of minutes at a good level would be fantastic for him this season. It would not come as a surprise to see him excel and really push forward with his senior career should he nail down some of the fundamentals of the modern centre-back role, with a really good strong foundation to build from in his physical form.
Hayes-Green is a player willing to work hard for the team and put his body on the line when defending. We have seen how well a Liverpool youngster can do at Bolton!
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