By Graeme Yorke
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Robbie Fowler, Steve McManaman and Rob Jones are back at Liverpool after being drafted in to the academy to share their on-field expertise with young Reds.
Brendan Rodgers is delivering on his promise to get more former stars involved with the club and they will play a complementary role to youth head coaches Alex Inglethorpe and Neil Critchley.
'It's great to have Robbie, Steve and Rob on board,' Rodgers told the Liverpool Echo.
Pride: Robbie Fowler and other Liverpool legends are mentoring young players at the club
'I said at the end of last season that I wanted to get more former players involved and over the off-season I spoke to a number of them about a possible role here.
'For me it's so important to have players like that around. These are players who the young guys look up to. The three of them have come in recently and I know they have thoroughly enjoyed having that involvement of working with the kids.
'We're starting with the older Academy players as they are ones they can really affect at this moment.'
Passion: Former midfielder Steve McManaman can teach young Reds to respect the shirt and the club's history
Each player's specialist knowledge - Fowler as a striker, McManaman in midfield and Jones at the back - will be tapped by the Under 21 and Under 18 squads in targeted sessions. But the visits are also about off-field guidance and instilling pride in playing for the red strip, Rodgers said.
'It's both coaching and mentoring, and Alex Inglethorpe is managing that process,' he said. 'At the moment it's about individual work with the players.
'Steve McManaman is working with the wingers and attacking players, Rob Jones is doing some work with the full backs and defenders, and Robbie Fowler is obviously working with the strikers.
'They are giving them little pointers and passing on experiences from their own careers to help the youngsters. What we are doing is providing an opportunity for the former players.
Hard to beat: McManaman said his team-mate Rob Jones (right) was the best defender he played with
'Then further down the line we will see what their interests are in that field.
'The young players coming through are picking up vital bits of information. I'm pleased that it's working well.'
The trio were chosen not just for their experience as players but for their passion for the club, which Rodgers hopes will rub off on his players as they push towards a first-team career.
'Sometimes managers feel the need to distance themselves from players like that but I love what this institution is all about at Liverpool,' Rodgers said.
'It's important to retain that connection with the history of the club. I want to protect that great history to ensure these players get the opportunity to be involved at a club they love.
'We lost a true great in Jamie Carragher this summer and you need people around who love the club dearly.
True great: Rodgers wants his young players to emulate players such as the recently retired Jamie Carragher
'If you look throughout the club now, we have lots of staff from this area. We have Mike Marsh on the staff with the first team – a local boy who came through and played for the first team.
'Frank McParland, our Academy director, knows the area inside out and guys like that are very important to me in understanding the culture of Liverpool.
'Getting the likes of Robbie, Steve and Rob involved is all part of that. They offer wisdom, they have played at the top level and they also understand what playing for Liverpool Football Club is all about.'
Jones, whose 12-year-old son Declan trains at Kirkby, jumped at the chance to get involved with the youth program.
'I really want to see the club do well and I'm happy to help the Academy youngsters in any way I can,' he told the Echo.
'There is some great talent coming through and Brendan has shown he's very willing to put his faith in youth. Hopefully we'll see more of the young players taking that step up to Melwood.'
WAZZA, liverpool - uk, moments ago
fergiechester hahahahahha ur right there use are nothing without fergie welcome back to reality !