Teenager Jack Hobbs is set to make his Liverpool debut tonight, in the Carling Cup third round match at Reading.
The 19-year-old, signed from Lincoln little more than a year ago, is expected
to play in central defence - possibly alongside Jamie Carragher.
And Carragher said: 'Jack has done very well and we have been impressed with
him in training.
'He came in from Lincoln and was a massive part of us winning the Youth Cup
two years on the trot.
'Now he is captain of the reserves and he deserves his chance. That is what
the club is about, giving young lads the chance to play alongside our foreign
players.
'People sometimes complain about the amount of foreign players coming in, so
it is good that a good English lad can get the chance to show what he can do.
'He deserves his chance, but that is up to the manager. Someone will be asked
to play alongside him, but the lad might end up helping one of us through the
game.
'Everyone needs help, no matter who they are. If he gets his chance, I am
sure he will grab it and do well.'
Benitez wants to utilise several fringe players at Reading, but will not want
to weaken the side to the extent that he could gift the tie to the Berkshire
club.
It is also expected that Brazilian midfielder Lucas Leiva will figure in the
tie, as well as winger Sebastian Leto.
The likes of Moroccan midfielder Nabil El Zhar, fit-again Fabio Aurelio and
young defender Emiliano Insua could also be involved.
Benitez is also expected to include Yossi Benayoun, who missed Saturday's
goalless draw with Birmingham because of the Jewish day of atonement.
Peter Crouch and even Fernando Torres, both on the bench against Birmingham,
could also play.
But one player who will not figure is Steven Gerrard, who Benitez believes is
paying the price for his recent outings with England.
Gerrard played in both European Championship qualifying wins over Israel and
Russia, despite being a doubt with a broken toe.
The Spaniard said: 'His national team is England but it is clear that these
players cannot play every game for 90 minutes.
'Gerrard was not 100% physically fresh, I don't mean fit but fresh.
'In these kind of games, you need to keep the tempo really high and if you
play too many games in a row for 90 minutes, especially if you are not fit, then
normally you have problems.'
