'I made mind up on Liverpool ace after Steven Gerrard chat – they've both proven me wrong'

Curtis Jones has been a standout performer for Liverpool truthful acold this season, and his accelerated emergence has adjacent amazed Anfield leader Didi Hamann, who admits helium was incorrect astir the midfielder

Former Liverpool star Didi Hamann has confessed that he's been proven incorrect by Curtis Jones, who has played a cardinal relation successful the Reds' awesome commencement to the season.

Hamann, who won the Champions League successful 2005 with the Reds, has expressed astonishment astatine however Jones has defied his expectations. His doubts persisted contempt nine legend, and erstwhile Liverpool Under-18s coach, Steven Gerrard telling him that the youngster was a budding "superstar".

Jones has made his people this play under Arne Slot's guidance, securing a spot successful Liverpool's starting lineup and contributing importantly with a extremity and 3 assists. The young star's prowess hasn't gone unnoticed connected the planetary signifier either; helium scored for England against Greece successful the Nations League, and Hamann has present acknowledged his mistake successful judgement.

"I've been watching Curtis Jones for a fig of years now. He indispensable person been successful and astir the squad present for 4 oregon 5 years," Hamann said, speaking to Genting Casino. "I wasn't excessively definite whether helium was susceptible of being a regular for Liverpool, but he's proved maine wholly wrong.

"He's 23 now. When I came into the archetypal squad astatine Bayern, I was 20. successful Bayern Munich. Physically, I wasn't ready. I astir apt needed 12 months to get utilized to training, the gait of the game, everything. Jones has been fantabulous and that is besides to bash with his confidence. He astir apt didn't consciousness portion of the squad earlier due to the fact that helium was a bit-part player, but present we've seen the existent Curtis Jones."

Jones made a large interaction erstwhile helium archetypal burst onto the country successful the 2019/2020 play nether Klopp, astir notably for his match-winning onslaught successful an FA Cup necktie against metropolis rivals Everton astatine Anfield. However, his speedy improvement was thing caller to erstwhile midfielder Gerrard, who told Hamann of the endowment Liverpool had successful their ranks.

"Obviously, Steven Gerrard coached him successful the academy. He's been a immense admirer of him, and helium said to maine years agone to ticker this kid due to the fact that he'll beryllium a superstar," Hamann said. "Sometimes you've got to springiness radical time, and much often than not, they don't get clip astatine the elephantine clubs."

Now a steadfast beingness successful the Liverpool squad, Jones continues to impress, notching up 5 goals past word – his highest tally truthful acold successful the archetypal team. The erstwhile German planetary present views Jones arsenic perchance 1 of Liverpool's cardinal players for the foreseeable future.

"You person to instrumentality your chapeau disconnected to however Liverpool person managed him. There would person been galore occasions wherever helium could person gone connected indebtedness for 12 months, but they decided it was amended for him to enactment and proceed his acquisition astatine Liverpool. I deliberation helium could beryllium a immense player, not lone for Liverpool, but besides for England.

"He acceptable up a extremity against Leverkusen (in the Champions League this season) wherever helium played a through-ball. I don't deliberation there's excessively galore players successful world shot who would spot the walk and would play the pass. It was perfectly sensational."

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