Liverpool star Curtis Jones claims his 'frame of mind' has changed

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
  • Follow Mail Sport’s new Liverpool WhatsApp channel for all the breaking news 

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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