Liverpool target Jamal Lewis backed to shine by Northern Ireland boss Ian Baraclough

Lewis has been linked with Premier League champions Liverpool as a key transfer target - with Baraclough confident his international left-back can shine on that high-profile stage.

“Why wouldn’t you want to go to the European champions, the Premier League champions and the World Club champions?” said Baraclough. “Some people might say you won’t get as much game time.

“But if you’re training day in, day out, with Jurgen Klopp and the calibre of players he’d be working with, you’re going to improve as a player and it would take him to the next level.

“He’s got all the attributes, he’s a level-headed kid and he’s one that wants to improve.

“You’ll find him in the gym before training and after training and he’s probably one of those kids, having worked with him for a little bit of time, you have to keep the reins on a bit so he doesn’t do too much.

“He wants to question you about how he can improve and I love players like that, I love players who invest time in themselves and don’t just settle for what they’ve got.”

Reports emerged last night of a £10 million bid lodged by the Anfield giants with recently-relegated Norwich City.

It is understood City rejected that offer as they rate Lewis around the £20 million mark.

However, the inclusion of a signifcant sell-on clause may help advance negotiations between Liverpool and Norwich for the 22-year-old.

Baraclough has few concerns over the challenge facing Lewis of trying to force his way past Andy Robertson, rated as one of the world’s best full-backs, to get minutes in the Liverpool starting side.

“It would be up to him to knuckle down, if that move happens, and make sure he’s at the forefront of the manager’s thoughts,” said Baraclough. “The amount of games they play, and the way they rotate players now, he’d certainly get game time and I certainly think it would bring him on as a player.

“As the national manager, I can see that as a step up and another player in the Premier League after Norwich unfortunately dropped out of the Premier League.

“I’ve spoken to two or three people about the proposed move, there have been differing opinions, as a player, I’d be saying ‘where’s the contract, I want to sign it’.”