CHARLIE BARNETT isn’t afraid to take big, bold decisions in pursuing the dream of building a career in professional football.

As an 11-year-old the true blue Evertonian walked away from the junior set-up at his beloved Goodison – because he believed he stood a better chance of progressing with Liverpool.

Eight years later Barnett chose to forsake the final 12 months on a three-year contract at Anfield in favour of a gamble.

That gamble was laid on the strength of his ability to secure a contract with a new club from outside the Premier League elite who would be prepared to offer him the chance of playing first-team football.

Several clubs were interested in taking the 19-year-old on trial this summer. Two FA Youth Cup winners medals with Liverpool in 2006 and 2007 were significant highlights on Barnett’s CV.

But the youngster from Walton in Liverpool chose to play his cards close to home in accepting an invitation from Tranmere.

The gamble paid off when, nine days before the start of the new League One campaign, Barnett secured a one-year deal with Rovers.

Manager Ronnie Moore described his new signing as “an exciting prospect” and “a little gem”.

The goal Barnet scored on his first appearance at Prenton Park, in a pre-season friendly against Blackpool last Saturday, compellingly showcased the strengths of his game: passing, vision and energy.

Barnett says: “I feel I can get started now. I was just looking for a chance somewhere, to show what I can do and hopefully shine.”

So positive was the impression the little midfielder made in his performances in pre-season games that Barnett’s name was on the lips of every Tranmere supporter on the pages of Merseyside’s newspapers and on the airwaves of local radio over the last month.

“All of the attention is new to me,” Barnett says. “It all came really quickly. I’m glad I’ve had a couple of good games and people are starting to notice. I loved last Saturday with the home fans getting to see me for the first time in the Blackpool game. It was a really good day and the supporters were terrific. I came off to a big ovation. I was thrilled. It’s good to know the fans are with you.”

Everton first noticed Barnett’s talent at the tender age of seven, as did Liverpool. He remembers: “I had the chance to go to either club but I chose Everton, being a Bluenose.

“At age 11 I decided to leave Everton and go to Liverpool. At the time Liverpool were keen to take me and what clinched it was they were building the new Academy for youngsters.”

Barnett was still a first-year scholar and one of the younger members of the team when he helped Liverpool lift the FA Youth Cup in 2006, beating Manchester City in the final. A year later he helped the Reds defend the trophy, defeating Manchester United in the final.

But 12 months further on found Barnett no closer to breaking into the first-team frame at Liverpool, a club boasting more than 60 professionals, many of them internationals.

Barnett said: “I could have stayed at Liverpool. I was on a three-year deal. But they told me I wasn’t likely to play in the first team. So I decided to leave and see if I could get first-team football elsewhere, give myself a new start.

“Other clubs were interested in me but I wanted to go with Tranmere and stay local. It’s been good.

“I came here for pre-season training and the running was hard. But as the work goes on you start to feel the benefit. Now I’m back into my game and feeling great.”

The most obvious quality of Barnett’s game is his love of the ball. He is one of those naturally gifted players who looks like he might have had a football tied to his feet of the age of six months.

The 4-3-3 system Tranmere have been working on through the summer friendlies is as new to Barnett as the majority of the Prenton Park squad.

He says: “At Liverpool we’ve played 4-4-2 win every game I can remember. In a 4-3-3, the midfielders get a bit more security and two of us can go forward. Hopefully that means we will be getting a few goals from midfield this season.”

Barnet hopes to find his name and the teamsheet for Rovers’ opening League One fixture at its Swindon on Saturday.

The biggest game is his career so far, the FA Youth Cup finals apart, was an appearance in a pre-season friendly for Newcastle against Juventus, during an aborted trial at St James’ Park last summer.

“But Swindon would be different,” Barnett says. “I would be playing for league points for the first time.”