Houllier keeping tabs on French duo

Last updated : 07 November 2002 By
The duo move to Liverpool as part of a mutually beneficial linkup with French side Le Havre, and Gerard Houllier admits to monitering the progress of the players tipped to have a big future at Anfield.

He said: "They have signed for five years and they represent the future of the club.

"We regularly send someone to follow their matches, usually once every two matches. I also try to watch their performances on TV, both with their club and with the French U21 team.

"Then I also have them on the phone. Above all, I often talk with Jean Francois Domergue to know what he is thinking about them and to know what they do in training sessions, their behavior inside the group.

"They are two true talents, two different talents, who need to develop their muscles. But they are just 18 year olds and we have to be lenient with them because a first season at a high level is always very demanding.

"Logically Anthony is a little not so good at the moment. However they want to improve and I want to pay homage to Jean Francois Domergue who manages them with a lot of cleverness and does his best not to expose them needlessly.

Sinama-Pongolle has scored three goals for a struggling Le Havre side this yeat, including two in his last two games against Nantes and Monaco.