Danny Ings spoke to Liverpool’s official website to reveal all the details about his injury and how he returned to full fitness.
Danny Ings has returned to full fitness for the second time in as many years and speaking to Liverpool’s official website, the striker opened up about the frustrations the last two years have caused him.
The 25-year old made his return to football in Liverpool U23s’ 2-0 win over Swansea on Friday afternoon, getting on the score sheet in the opening 15 minutes and the striker is confident he has his rhythm back. However, Ings won’t be pulling the sympathy card or resting on his laurels.
“I feel good,” he reveals.
“It feels a lot different to last time – the rehab felt like it went a lot quicker. Even though it was actually longer, mentally it felt like it passed quicker.
“I have done everything I possibly can in the gym – I couldn’t have done anymore and I think that’s shown in my testing in terms of strength, my reactive testing and being able to train with the lads two or three times a day. But it doesn’t stop now that I am fit, I still want to improve.”
“I’ve missed a lot of football and I’ve missed a lot of development, so I am constantly learning and watching the boys, trying to get back to the old me and also be better than that.”
Ings was included in the Reds’ pre-season training camp in Germany and while he did not feature on the pitch, the Englishman felt happy to be back among the squad, meeting the new signings and enjoyed just being able to kick a football again.
“It couldn’t have been more of a perfect week to reintegrate with the team,” he said.
“Being a part of the training, waking up every day and having breakfast with the lads, going off to training… that’s a lot different to being back home at Melwood doing rehab. So it’s good to feel a part of it again, going out and training with the lads and improve every day on my fitness and confidence.
“We had the new lads coming in and it’s important we get to know each other. They’re all really, really nice lads. They’ve all settled in really quickly, but it’s that kind of group here – you come in and are made to feel a part of it. They did their initiation songs really well, which is always a big part of joining a new team. They didn’t look uncomfortable and looked as though they enjoyed it!”
Ings’ career got off to a flying start for the Reds back under Brendan Rodgers and the Englishman not only scored in a Merseyside derby but earned his first senior England call up as well. While he isn’t taking anything for granted, the forward is backing himself to return to those levels.
“I don’t see why not,” he reasons.
“I don’t see why I can’t achieve what I’ve always wanted to achieve. With all the rejection I endured in football as a kid, I never thought the chance to achieve what I have so far would ever be available to me. The little steps I’ve taken in my career have given me more hunger to take the next steps.
“I am a player who is never going to settle for what I am – I am always going to try and improve and do my best, so I don’t see any reason why I can’t get back to that level. It’s going to take time after this injury to get back to my best, but I am willing to give everything, every day to try and make it happen.”
You can read the full transcript of Ings’ interview here including how much his next first-team goal will mean for him, James Milner’s favourite type of movies and who helped him overcome the hurdles of his injury.
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