Curtis Jones claims his ‘frame of mind’ has changed and that he’s ‘matured’ in recent years, as Liverpool star talks up new leadership role at the club
- Curtis Jones has spoken about his new leadership role within the Liverpool team
- The academy graduate insisted that his ‘frame of mind’ has changed recently
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Curtis Jones says he is maturing into a leader-like figure in the Liverpool dressing room and has taken a lot of useful experiences from starring in England’s Under 21s glory in the European Championships this summer.
The 22-year-old Scouser recently passed 100 appearances for the Reds and will return to the squad in tonight’s Europa League encounter with Toulouse after serving a three-match ban for a controversial red card in the much-discussed defeat at Tottenham last month.
Jones has been a regular in Liverpool’s XI this season despite Jurgen Klopp’s side spending north of £150million on fellow midfielders in the summer, and believes he is back to his best after a couple of campaigns plagued by multiple injuries.
‘I had a time where I was out for, I think it was 15 weeks or something, and it was (all about) the hunger I had in me to come back and play,’ said Jones. ‘I just worked hard. My frame of mind changed, and I matured as well.
‘I came back and I was fortunate enough to help with goals and assists, but the most important thing that I had at the end of the season was that I was playing game after game after game. (The U21 Euros) helped 100 per cent.
Liverpool star Curtis Jones has claimed that his ‘frame of mind’ has changed in recent times
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‘I think I had 12 games consecutively (for Liverpool before the Euros). I came in, I had a buzz about me, confidence. I went in there and I was myself and I was fortunate enough to make the team of the tournament and I scored the goal (in the final) apparently! I’m carrying on the form.’
Jones’ joke is referring to the tournament-winning goal which deflected in off him from a Cole Palmer free-kick. He says he feels like one of the seniors at Anfield now especially with the mass changes made in the summer.
‘It’s a tough one, if I’m honest, because I’ve always been the younger kid,’ added Jones, who recently captained the Reds against Leicester. ‘Now there’s kids coming in and I’m having a conversation with them. It’s about helping out the kids as well.
‘It’s good to have the armband on me and to be captain, but every time at the training ground I always try to be a leader in my own way.’
Cody Gakpo has been in full training for Liverpool since Sunday after a knee injury, while Caiomhin Kelleher should be fit again for the visit of the French side.
Andy Robertson had successful surgery on Wednesday and will now begin his recovery – but is unlikely to play again before Christmas.
The academy graduate (middle) claims younger stars in the squad now look to him for advice
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