Liverpool teen Curtis Jones 'grateful and honoured' to make debut in FA Cup

Hot prospect | Liverpool's Curtis Jones
Liverpool FC via Getty Images
David Lynch8 January 2019

Curtis Jones expressed gratitude to Jurgen Klopp after making his Liverpool first-team debut at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday.

The 17-year-old, who has been with the club’s academy since the age of nine, was handed his first competitive start for the Reds’ senior team as they travelled to Molineux in the FA Cup.

The game ultimately ended in a 2-1 defeat and a third-round exit for the visitors, but that didn’t take the shine off a big milestone for Jones.

The young Scouser was understandably ‘buzzing’ to get 70 minutes under his belt for the club he supported as a boy.

He said: “It was a big thing for me. I was grateful, I was honoured, and I can only thank the boss for putting me out there.

“As a 17-year-old boy coming from Liverpool, it’s every kid’s dream being a footballer and going out there and playing for Liverpool.

“So to do that at 17 it’s a massive achievement for me and I’m absolutely buzzing.”

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Were it not for a late injury to Adam Lallana, Jones would have started yesterday’s game on the substitutes’ bench.

But a late addition to the starting XI did not faze the teenager, who enjoyed every minute of his big chance.

He added: “I actually found out yesterday. I was meant to be just part of the squad but unfortunately one of the lads got an injury and then I got the nod and I was buzzing.

“I wouldn’t say [I was] nervous. I was more excited than anything. I tried to go out there and play how the boss wanted me to play and I enjoyed it.”

Jones went on to reveal how a pre-match pep talk from James Milner convinced him to play with trademark swagger, and spoke of his desire to now build on a promising start in a red shirt.

He continued: “I spoke to Milly before the game and he told me to be myself and be confident so I was trying to get on the ball and play the way I normally play [with] confidence, skill, flair.

“But it’s good opposition and, give them credit, they know how to deal with players that are good on the ball.

“I was trying to do what I can and, as I said before, I’m absolutely buzzing to make my debut.

“For any player that hasn’t had a lot of game time for the first team getting a chance to come on, the only thing the players want is to get back out there and show their talent and what they’re capable of doing.”

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