Liverpool striker Jerome Sinclair praises influence of 'legend' Robbie Fowler

Liverpool striker Jerome Sinclair has praised club icon Robbie Fowler and spoken of his excitement at getting the opportunity to learn from one of the most prolific marksmen in Premier League history.

Fowler scored 163 top-flight goals in total during a stellar career 19-year professional career, an impressive figure that leaves him as the sixth-highest scorer of all-time behind Alan Shearer, Andy Cole, Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard and Thierry Henry.

The former England international's consistency and sheer passion made him a legendary figure at Liverpool, with many of the Anfield faithful showing their appreciation for his talents by referring to him simply as "God" during his two playing spells with Liverpool.

Now back at the club in an ambassadorial role, Fowler's presence around the academy is clearly having a positive impact on the next crop of hopefuls hoping to emulate his rise and crucially helping forwards like Sinclair reap the benefits of his considerable experience.

"Robbie is a legend at this club so to get a few helpful tips from him and some advice is brilliant for me," the 18-year-old told Liverpool's official website.

"This is a guy who has been there and done it and played at the pinnacle of the game. It's fantastic for me to get the chance to work with him and it can only improve my game. He has given me a few little tips on my first touch, and worked with me on different types of finishing. He is always there to help me in any way he can."

Jerome Sinclair aiming for a shot at first-team football

Sinclair has demonstrated his own goalscoring prowess for Liverpool's youth teams once again this season and will hope to catch manager Brendan Rodgers' eye three years after making history as Liverpool's youngest ever first-team player during a nine-minute substitute cameo against West Bromwich Albion in the League Cup back in 2012.

While he was part of a winning team that day due to a brace from Nuri Sahin, Sinclair has not featured again at senior level since but may have the opportunity to stake a claim for further inclusion next season with question marks hanging over the future of Mario Balotelli following an indifferent start to his Liverpool career.

Rodgers, a former youth coach at both Reading and Chelsea, has proven his willingness to back talented young players during his tenure on Merseyside and is now reaping the benefits with the impressive form of Jordan Ibe.

Tricky winger Ibe spent the first half of the current campaign on loan with Championship promotion hopefuls Derby County but has now returned to Liverpool eager to prove himself worthy of a starting berth alongside the likes of Philippe Coutinho and Raheem Sterling.