 He joined the Liverpool Academy in 1996 aged 8, and worked his way up through the club's youth teams.In 2005–06 he won the FA Youth Cup for the first time as a 17-year-old when Liverpool beat Manchester City 3–2 on aggregate, finishing the competition as Liverpools leading goal scorer in the competition.In 2006–07, he scored 3 goals, including 2 in front of the Kop at Anfield in the 7–3 aggregate score against Newcastle in the semi final of the 2006–07 FA Youth Cup to secure a place in Liverpool's second consecutive final appearance

In the final they faced archrivals Manchester United.