With competition for a striking place at Anfield set to increase with the purchase of Djibril Cisse, McAuley has urged the promising striker to raise his game to the next level.
McAuley said: "Neil took his goals well and he lives to score his goals. He is a natural goalscorer.
"Neil knows there is still parts of his game he needs to work at on a regular basis before he can get to the next level of consistency. The good thing is he is scoring goals.
"He is young enough being just 21. He has got a good head on his shoulders and he is hell bent on scoring goals for fun which he does do. He is coming to terms with his all-round game and link-up play and is improving."