Harry Wilson has revealed how a fortuitous mix-up during his early playing days led to him being signed up by Liverpool's academy side.

The Reds and Wales attacking midfielder, who hails from Corwen, was released in error by Manchester United's academy staff before Liverpool intervened and recruited the eight-year-old.

Since then, Wilson has gone to the cusp of first team action at Anfield and made three impressive appearances for the Welsh National team.

Reflecting on his younger playing days, Wilson told the BBC: "I was playing for Llangollen at the time because Corwen didn't have a team back then.

"My next door neighbour's lad was at Wrexham and said they were linking up with Man United's academy and they were looking for lads between the age of six and 10.

"I was seven and went for a few training sessions with United and when that came to an end they said 'we'll give you call in the next few weeks if you're successful for the under eights team'.

"We didn't hear anything, but then a couple of weeks later we had a call from a Liverpool scout who said: 'They've taken the wrong Harry through, we'd like to take a look at you'.

"So I went to Liverpool and they liked what they saw and I signed my first contract when I was nine and I've never looked back."

Former Wales boss Chris Coleman was another to spot Wilson's prodigious talent and in 2013 named him in his squad for a World Cup qualifier against Belgium.

An 87th minute substitute appearance in that game made make him the youngest ever capped Welshman at the age of 16 years and 207 days old.

Despite failing to make any further appearances for his country in the intervening four years, Wilson was recalled to the side by new boss Ryan Giggs for the China Cup tournament.

That recall proved justified as Wilson scored in a 6-0 rout of the hosts on his 21st birthday, before playing most of the final against Uruguay.

On his four-year absence from the Wales side, he said: "When I made my debut there was a lot of injuries and maybe we didn't have the the strength in depth we've had over the last four years.

"So that was key, but I think when someone is playing first team football on a regular basis they're always going to get the nod and I think that's right.

"Now I'm doing that, I think I'm in a strong position to be in the Wales squad.

"It was a brilliant feeling scoring my first goal for my country. To do it on my birthday as well made it even more special and on my first start as well.

"I was desperate to be in that squad as well because when a new manager comes in I think you always want to get in his eyeline early to try and impress him and show what you can do."

A successful loan spell with Championship club Hull saw Wilson net seven goals in 13 appearances for the Tigers last term.

But Wilson admits he is now desperate to force his way into manager Jurgen Klopp's thoughts and prosper with this season's Champions League finalists.

"It's my dream to play for Liverpool" he added.

"Being there from such an early age, I know what the club's about, how passionate the fans are and what a fantastic place it is to be.

"So to be playing at Anfield week in week out for many years is my dream."