Mellor given chance to make Reds grade

The sensational goal of Neil Mellor, seen here 23 November 2004, scored against Arsenal on Sunday might have earned the back-up striker the chance to salvage his career

Neil Mellor's sensational late winner for Liverpool against Arsenal on Sunday has earned the back-up striker the chance to salvage a career that had appeared to be drifting irrevocably towards the lower divisions.

Mellor, 22, was nearly sold to Sheffield United earlier this season but Liverpool's injury crisis handed him a fantastic opportunity to prove he can make the grade in the top flight.

Sunday's sweetly struck stoppage time winner -- his first goal in the Premiership -- will have helped his cause but Mellor knows he still has work to do to convince Reds boss Rafael Benitez that he deserves an extended contract at Anfield.

"It was important for Neil because he is a young player and he scored in front of the Kop, that was wonderful," Benitez said.

"It can help with the development of a young player but I have to say that it is easy to arrive at this position but a lot more difficult to maintain such a situation.

"He has scored a good goal but now he has to work hard and get back down to earth because at the moment he is up in the sky - and I have told him so."

Benitez was expected to give Mellor another opportunity to impress in Wednesday night's League Cup quarter-final against Tottenham, in which Spanish winger Antonio Nunez is due to make his full debut.

Benitez admits that there has been interest in Mellor from the lower divisions.

But any decisions on the player's future will have to wait at least until Luis Garcia and Milan Baros return from injury. Liverpool are also having to do without Djibril Cisse, who is out for the rest of the season after breaking his leg.

"We do not have a lot of strikers at the moment, we need all of them," the Spanish coach said. "We know Mellor is a good goalscorer, he is playing well and working hard. But always I say the same, the future depends on the player.

"In the end it is my decision (about his future) but it is easy for me to make that decision if he scores a lot of goals. If he does not play well then we will have to talk."

Mellor himself said he had never lost faith in his ability to make the step up from being a prolific scorer for the youth and reserve teams.

"I never gave up hope that an opportunity would present itself at Liverpool,", he said.

"I have always enjoyed being a Liverpool player and if there is interest from other clubs, my stance is straightforward enough. I definitely don't want to leave. I do not want to give up my dream of making it at Anfield."