Rio Ngumoha’s season continues to get better.The 17-year-old has been called up to be part of England’s pre-World Cup training squad, along with Fulham’s Josh King and Bournemouth’s Alex Scott, who will provide extra numbers for training and the friendlies against New Zealand and Costa Rica.It doesn’t mean that a full call-up will happen, but it is still a huge opportunity for a teenager who has surpassed all expectations this season. Having been largely expected to simply offer back-up to Liverpool’s more senior stars, he has made 28 appearances in all competitions, clocking up 879 minutes, and offered some much-needed positivity amidst a largely gloomy campaign. To say he is ahead of schedule would be an understatement.The England Under-19 international’s potential has been known for some time, which is why Liverpool were delighted to secure his services and Chelsea were furious to lose him when he moved to Merseyside in September 2024.His impact at the club was immediate, impressing staff with his technical quality and one-on-one ability. He was fast-tracked to the under-23s and supporters got their first glimpse of his potential when he made his first-team debut in an FA Cup third-round tie against Accrington Stanley in January 2025.Last summer’s pre-season saw Ngumoha make his mark at senior level. He became impossible to ignore as he scored two goals and provided two assists during four appearances, including an excellent goal and assist in the final friendly against Athletic Club at Anfield. His name being chanted around the ground summed up his impact.