Curtis Jones has detailed the advice he gave to Calum Scanlon in the Liverpool’s defender’s debut earlier this season against Toulouse.
The 18-year-old fullback is regarded as one of the most exciting prospects coming through at Kirkby, with the England youth international making his first appearance for the Reds’ senior team this season.
And speaking on the We Are Liverpool Podcast, Jones revealed that he was giving the former Birmingham City academy star advice on how Scanlon can play his own game more efficiently.
A defender who likes to make bombing runs down the left-flank, Scanlon’s style of play is certainly pleasing on the eye but one that can be easily negated in senior matches.
And for Jones, giving the fullback advice on his debut against Toulouse was key in Scanlon adapting his game, which the Liverpool teenager fully took on board.
Jones said: “I was saying to him ‘we’re 4-1 up, we can control the game, you don’t need to get the ball and run, you can control it and then run, and the more than they run the bigger those gaps will be and that’s when you have your space,’ and he took all that on board.”
Calum Scanlon needs to listen to senior Liverpool players like Curtis Jones
Learning from your elders is a practice as old as humans themselves, and for Scanlon, taking in any piece of advice from senior players like Jones will go a long way in his development.
It’s clear that the England youth international is highly-rated at Liverpool, with Scanlon expected to feature more for the Reds in upcoming European and domestic cup matches.
And taking in on what the likes of Jones has to say will be instrumental in Scanlon reaching that level when he will be considered constantly by Jurgen Klopp.
Indeed, the defender clearly has the potential to become a star for Liverpool, and listening to critiques from the likes of Jones will be key in Scanlon reaching his true potential.
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