Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, ex-Newcastle midfielder Keith Gillespie has praised Liverpool for allowing Harvey Elliott to continue his development in the Championship this season.

Following his move from Fulham, the teenager has made strides in the Reds' first-team, appearing eight times in all competitions last season.

But with Liverpool's destructive front-three in scinscillating form in Liverpool's title-winning campaign, Elliott's chances of becoming a regular at Anfield were always going to be limited.

Therefore, Michael Edwards ensured a temporary move for the youngster went through to join Blackburn Rovers on loan for the season, in an attempt to gain valuable senior experience prior to challenging for a regular place at Anfield in the future.

Elliott has dazzled during his spell at Ewood Park, scoring five times, including his first professional goal against Coventry in October, whilst adding five 10 assists, second only to Norwich's Emiliano Buendia in the Championship assist charts.

And Gillespie told Football Fan Cast that a second-tier loan was exactly what Elliott needed at this stage in his career:

"I think it's been a wise move for Liverpool to send him out to send him out there to the Championship, a good level of football - playing week in week out against seasoned-pros, rather than staying at Liverpool and playing Under-23s football."

Elliott has impressed at Blackburn this season, and with the likes of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane struggling in recent months, the 17-year-old might have done enough to force his way into Jurgen Klopp's first-team squad next term.