Jurgen Klopp says that it is time for Curtis Jones shed the potential tag and become a fine player in his own right.
There has been high hopes that the academy graduate to start to make big inroads and become a consistent member of the starting midfield rotation this season.
But unfortunately the 20 year-old who has made 59 appearances for his boyhood club has not been able to get any momentum into his campaign, suffering a serious eye injury from a freak incident at training along with a bout of COVID which saw him on the sidelines for the best part of two months in total.
The midfield set up has been one of much conjecture. James Milner is likely in the last few months of a illustrious 20 year professional career, while the future of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita are often talking points.
Both players have skillsets that are beneficial to the team when they are on top form, but the fact of the matter is that their consistency is often lacking and you can’t afford to have that when fighting for honours.
And then there is the Thiago dilemma, a wonderfully technical Footballer in full flow, but he just cannot seem to get his body right on a consistent basis.
Klopp is someone that doesn’t miss a beat when it comes to assessing players or a looming issue within the squad.
And that’s why these comments are quite telling when it comes to Jones as you sense he wants the incumbents to feel the pressure from those below as the Mail reported.
“I love the boy and the potential he has but we have to come to the next steps now and make sure he fulfils the potential he has on the pitch very often.
“You have these kind of conversations when you are not 100 per cent happy with the moment.
"He is very young but his potential is incredible and we both together have to find a way to show much more of him.
"It's an ongoing process with Curtis and me but I know he he had a tricky time a long time out with the eye and then after that Covid which was not helpful.
"But now we try to make sure he gets rhythm and can show how good he can actually be."
With the news that Harvey Elliott will be returning to full training this week, hopefully we can see the next generation of young Reds midfielders start to really make a name for themselves in the second half of this season and beyond.
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