Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, former Newcastle United midfielder Keith Gillespie has said that Liverpool's Harvey Elliott isn't far off becoming a regular first-teamer at Anfield.

Elliott first caught the eye when he became Fulham's youngster player in an EFL Cup tie against Millwall back in 2018 prior to his move to Anfield 10 months later.

The winger's first campaign at Anfield ended in Premier League glory, with the teenager making eight appearances in all competitions before the Reds opted to send him out on loan to Blackburn this season to continue his development.

And the highly-rated attacker has performed impressively for the Ewood Park outfit this term, scoring five times, whilst laying on 10 assists for his teammates, bettered only by Norwich City's Emiliano Buendia (12).

Elliott will return to Anfield at the end of the season, and whilst Gillespie believes that another year out on loan might benefit the 17-year-old, the former Northern Ireland midfielder is confident that he'll eventually become a key part at Anfield.

He told Football FanCast:

"I've got friends who are Blackburn fans, and have been very impressed with him. He looks to have an incredible future ahead of him.

"He's a young lad, he's not going to play every game should he come back to Liverpool and stay next season. Even send him out for another season just to give him that little more experience, and then he comes back and then it's like 'right, you're ready to come into the Liverpool first-team on a regular basis'.

"He looks nailed on to be a Liverpool regular for many years."

Whilst Blackburn have failed to live up to their tag as pre-season promotion favourites, Elliott has done his reputation no harm, meaning should Liverpool be keen for another loan, there should be plenty of interest.