It is undoubtedly a big season ahead for Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones.
Jones has threatened to breakthrough and become a regular starter for the Reds over the past 18 months or so.
However, having ended the 2022/23 season so promisingly, Jones was frustrated by injury for much of 2023/24. Others have moved ahead of him in the pecking order at Anfield again.
Jurgen Klopp was a big fan of the Scouser, but with Arne Slot arriving, Jones is going to have to prove himself all over again amid fierce competition in the Liverpool squad.
Luckily for Curtis, he has the advantage of being one of the first back to work with Slot in pre-season.
Curtis Jones praises Kaide Gordon
Jones needs to kick on a little this season after a slightly underwhelming campaign. The academy graduate shone at times but was too inconsistent in his availability.
Even if Jones is not playing though, he’s absolutely worth to have around the squad. His positivity is always clear to see around the AXA Training Centre.
Now 23, the Scouser is also no longer a youngster. As a player who has trodden the pathway from the academy to the first-team, he is a real example to the young prospects now coming through.
Given how many of the Liverpool first-team are currently still away on holiday, Curtis has spent the past couple of weeks in and around many of these youngsters.
READ MORE: Liverpool told they’ve got a youngster who was ‘outstanding’ in training on-loan last season
While it is a great experience for those players still making their way through the youth teams, these pre-season preparations can also serve to highlight which kids are standing out as a cut above.
One who we already know can mix it with the first-team is Kaide Gordon. The 19-year-old has been in and around it for three years now.
And Gordon certainly seems to have made an impression on Jones. Taking to his Instagram stories on Tuesday, Liverpool’s No.17 shared a picture of he and Gordon laughing in the gym together.
“My boy!” writes Jones. Let’s hope we can see the two of them link up on the pitch together over the coming campaign.
Don’t forget about Kaide Gordon
Liverpool have so much talent coming through just at the moment. They’re also doing hard work to hoover up some of the best youngsters from around the country to bolster things further.
Rio Ngumoha is set to join from Chelsea. The forward comes with a massive reputation.
However, it should also be remembered that Gordon himself was one of these precocious talents just three years ago.
Signed to the club as a 16-year-old from Derby County, Gordon has been described as a ‘phenomenal’ talent by Liverpool coach Barry Lewtas.
Injuries have really disrupted his rhythm across the last two seasons. But now fully fit, Gordon looks ready to make an impact once again. Don’t be surprised to be wowed by him in pre-season.
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