Rafa: Starlet close to debut

Rafael Benitez has revealed how Dani Pacheco is edging ever closer to his first Liverpool start.

The Spanish starlet has made two substitute appearances for the Reds first-team so far this season and has been in dazzling form for John McMahon's reserve side.

Pacheco has also been named on the bench for five of Liverpool's last seven fixtures, and Benitez admits the 19-year-old's full debut may not be too far away.

"Dani is continuing to train with the first team," said the Reds boss.

"When we let (Andriy) Voronin go (to Dynamo Moscow), we immediately brought Dani into the group and every day you can see that he is progressing. His training is good.

"Every day you are thinking about when you can play, he has been on the bench a lot and sometimes you are thinking when it might be right to put him on.

"But you also have to think about senior players and giving time to others who need it. The one thing we know, though, is Dani is a player with quality.

"He has game intelligence and we know that he can make a difference. He is still very young but we are pleased with him and he is doing well."

Pacheco agreed a new deal to keep him at Anfield until 2012 last August, and Benitez is confident the former Barcelona forward has the talent to succeed at first-team level.

"Dani has no problems when he is in possession," he said. "He is clever and he always wants to try difficult things but that shows the quality that he has.

"The fact he is training with us shows what we think of him. He is with us all the time and that means he can play at any time.

"It depends on the game but, clearly, if he continues to keep working as he has been doing, he will definitely gets his chance."

VIDEO: Watch Pacheco in top form for the reserves>>