Le Havre stars may stay in France

Last updated : 15 May 2003 By Chris Maxwell
Both players were expected to join the Liverpool squad this summer but Houllier feels that they may benefit from another year of first-team football in France.

Le Havre currently lie second bottom of Le Championnat with just two games to go so the pair may well be at Anfield come pre-season training. Houllier, though, admits that he feels his young starlets are not yet ready for the rigours of the Premiership.

Houllier, speaking to the club's official website, said: "When they come here depends on whether or not their club stays in the Premier League in France. If Le Havre stay up then we may leave them there for another six months, we'll see.

"In an ideal world I would like them to come over here as soon as possible because it takes time to settle in this country. You can see that with Milan Baros. It took him time to learn the language and to get used to the game.

"They may need six months or a year to play in the reserves and to get used to our football before they are ready for the first team. They are two gems, I can tell you that, but remember they are still only 18."