Aberdeen boss Jim Goodwin believes Liverpool will help elevate Calvin Ramsay to the level of a regular starter for Scotland.
Teenage defender Ramsay made a multi-million switch from Aberdeen to six-time European champions Liverpool this summer.
The 19-year-old right-back was selected for Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad this week for the first time.
Pittodrie youth academy graduate Ramsay is in contention to win a debut cap in Wednesday’s friendly away to Turkey.
The call-up is the latest high in a memorable November for the Aberdonian.
Ramsay made his debut for Liverpool last Tuesday when coming on as a substitute in the 2-0 Champions League defeat of Napoli.
He then started for the first time this week in Liverpool’s Carabao Cup third round penalty shoot-out win over Derby County.
Goodwin said: “Calvin will get all of the attention required at Liverpool to get him to become a better player.
“Hopefully (he’ll become) a Liverpool regular and a Scottish regular in the national team.”
Ramsay has ‘confidence and self-belief’
Teenager Ramsay played all 120 minutes of the cup defeat of Derby County which went all the way.
Liverpool triumphed 3-2 on penalties following a 0-0 draw at Anfield.
Next round!✅ pic.twitter.com/0nLvQ13V5X
— Calvin Ramsay (@CalvinRamsay) November 10, 2022
Ramsay only made his first team debut for Aberdeen in March last year when featuring as a substitute in a 1-0 loss at Dundee United.
In a meteoric rise, the teen won the Scottish Football Writers’ Association Young Player of the Year award for 2021/22.
This form alerted a host of top clubs across Europe who were interested in signing Ramsay.
However, Liverpool won the battle to secure he teen in a deal which could be worth up to £8 million for Aberdeen.
The Dons received an initial £4.5m, but could pocket a further £3.5m in additional add-ons should Ramsay reach certain landmarks at Anfield.
Goodwin insists Ramsay has the right mentality to thrive at one of the biggest clubs in the world.
He said: “Calvin is a very quiet kid and keeps himself to himself.
“He just came in, got on with his work and was a professional, level-headed player.
“His parents deserve a lot of credit for that, with the way he has been brought up.
“Calvin is very respectful of others.
“One thing he has got is a real confidence and self belief.
“You need that at any level, especially at an elite sports level.
“You really need that self belief to take the game to the level Calvin is at now.”
A dream debut for Aberdonian
Ramsay said making his Liverpool debut was a “dream come true”.
His family were at Anfield to see him make his Liverpool bow in the defeat of Serie A leaders Napoli.
The Liverpool debut in the Champions League of their former team-mate was the talk of the Dons dressing room the next day.
It was a win which secured Liverpool’s progress to the knock-out stages, where they will now face 14-time Champions League winners Real Madrid
Ramsay registered the most assists of any teenage defender in world football in the 2021/22 season.
That alerted Liverpool to the teen with clubs like Manchester United, Leeds United, West Ham, Leicester City and Tottenham also keen on Ramsay.
Clubs in the German Bundesliga and Italian Serie A were also keen to land Ramsay.
Ramsay needs to develop defensive attributes and physicality
Ramsay’s offensive attributes made him an attractive proposition for top clubs in Europe.
At just 19, Ramsay is still in the early stages of his career and development.
Goodwin expects the teen to become an even better player and reach far higher levels by working on his physicality and defensive play.
And there is no better club to achieve this development than Liverpool, Goodwin believes.
Goodwin said: “Calvin still has a lot to do in terms of his physical development.
“He needs to get stronger.
“To compete in the English Premier League, you need to be athletic, really strong and quick.
“Nobody can doubt his offensive attributes.
“I did say to him that he needs to improve defensively.
“I think that is a part of his game that he can continuously try to develop.
“But he is at a great club that has a great history of developing young players.”
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