Curtis Jones called on own coming of age for advice to 16-year-old Kaide Gordon – Liverpool FC

Since making his debut at 17-years-old, Curtis Jones‘ growth was placed on a quick monitor and his experiences at the moment are filtering down to 1 Kaide Gordon.

The now 20-year-old has 52 video games beneath his belt for the first-team having swiftly grow to be a trusted member of Jurgen Klopp‘s senior contingent.

A very long time standout expertise at academy stage, Jones has needed to discover ways to play his pure recreation and steadiness the wants of the workforce and making the proper selections on the proper second.

It’s been a notable enchancment as he has come of age, along with his maturity in all sides of the sport clear to see due to his growth on and off the pitch.

“I didn’t even know Norwich was going to be my fiftieth recreation, however then after I assume again to that MK Dons match I’ve come a good distance by way of my complete recreation,” Jones mentioned within the membership’s YNWA journal.

“I’m speaking dribbling. I simply don’t go mad and run off with the ball and attempt to shoot and rating now. I attempt to help. Defending clever – second balls, headers and positioning…I’ve improved over the 2 years and as an individual I really feel like a person now as properly.”

And his experiences are lending themselves to the subsequent in line from the academy, together with 16-year-old Gordon who made his senior debut for Liverpool at Norwich within the League Cup.

Taking the teenager beneath his wing, Jones was capable of present a voice who has been there and achieved it only some quick years in the past and supply the message to benefit from the expertise as he had nothing to show.

“I spoke to Kaide earlier than the sport and I simply mentioned ‘everyone is aware of why you’re right here – you’re an awesome participant – so don’t assume it’s a must to go on the market and beat the world or attempt to rating a hat-trick’,” Jones added.

“I mentioned, ‘when you do rating a hat-trick then honest sufficient! However simply play with a smile in your face and benefit from the recreation’. I instructed him to take all of it in as a result of your debut is a proud time.

“I simply didn’t need him to assume he had a degree to show. It was extra about him going on the market, having fun with it and getting that have. He did very well – all three of them did really – and he was higher than me on my debut [at Wolves] anyway!

“Kaide is superb, however they’re all good. That’s why they’re coaching with the primary workforce.”

That Jones has taken it upon himself to lend recommendation and provide his experiences is a testomony to his character and the Reds’ subsequent in line on the academy can solely profit from his journey.

And there’s little doubt that the match at Carrow Street was solely the primary time that the likes of Jones, Gordon, Tyler Morton and Conor Bradley will characteristic collectively at senior stage. The longer term is vivid for Liverpool.