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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Ian Doyle

'Show I'm the one' - Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones sounds summer ambition after 'freak' setbacks

Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones is determined to show he can be "the one" for England under-21s this month and help end a 39-year wait for silverware.

Jones and Reds team-mate Harvey Elliott are in the Young Lions squad for the forthcoming UEFA U21 European Championships in Romania and Georgia.

The 22-year-old, who was in the England party denied a place in the knockout rounds in dramatic fashion two years ago, will make his final appearances in the age group during the tournament.

And Jones is determined to help his country claim the title for the first time since 1984 while demonstrating he is ready for consideration for Gareth Southgate's senior set-up.

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"There are a lot of things I can say," said Jones. "One is I'm here now at 22 so it's the last time I'll play in an U21s team. I want to finish here on a high. And if I show here now the U21s is too easy, it's another one.

"From a personal point of view for me, and the whole of the team, it's not been won (by England) for such a long time. I played in the tournament two years ago and it was hard when you'd go out early. I've had a taste of that. Coming here now, with experience to help the lads and having been around it a lot, I want to show I'm the one."

Jones started only one Premier League game before April due to a stress problem in his tibia, but impressed on his recall during the closing months in which he started all 11 of Liverpool's unbeaten run-in, scoring against Tottenham Hotspur and a brace at Leicester City.

"I've said before this season I've had a tough time with injury, but now I'm back and I've played a lot of games now, so I'm healthy and I'm ready," added the midfielder.

"I haven't had a lot of good fortune (with injuries). The injuries I've had they've not been like a hamstring or a calf injury, it's always been a freak one - I got poked in the eye and then I've had a bone injury. I've overcome them now and I'm in a good place. I'm fit and I'm happy.

"I had 15 weeks where I was on the sidelines and there were games where I thought if I was there I could have made a difference at times. It was tough. It's always hard when you're at a club like ours, it attracts starts, but I'm a young lad and a Scouser. And I've given them a little reminder of the things I can do with the more games I play."

England begin the group stage next Thursday when they take on Czech Republic, after which they face Israel and reigning champions Germany. And Jones goes into the tournament on the back of fulsome praise from Reds legend Steven Gerrard, who recently declared the midfielder more talented than he was at the same age.

"I appreciate that, that's a man I learned a lot from as a kid," said Jones, speaking to the BBC's Football Daily podcast. "Still even now, it's a man who if I followed in the footsteps it would be perfect, he is literally the prime example.

"I worked with him at the Academy when he was the manager of the U18s, and he's the man who gave me the platform to go and play with freedom and a smile on my face. From there I took the step with the first team, so I thank him a lot.

"If there's anybody I could have advice off or a compliment from it's him. To hear that is a massive boost in confidence."

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