Steve Nicol has praised Curtis Jones for the impact he has had at Liverpool this season despite the team being hit with injuries.
Throughout the campaign, Jurgen Klopp has had to deal with key men being on the sidelines, but the club is now facing its worst crisis of the season at the wrong time.
The League Cup final against Chelsea is around the corner and Liverpool are without a number of big names, including Diogo Jota’s worrying knee injury that he suffered against Brentford.
But whilst some have been less fortunate, Steve Nicol thinks the squad has benefited from it because Curtis Jones has ‘taken a step forward’, as he told ESPN.
The 23-year-old probably wouldn’t have considered himself a starter when the season got underway in August, but he is now ‘quietly developing’.
In truth, the England U21 international should be taking those steps forward because he is heading into the territory of becoming a senior player in the team.
Yes, it’s still a body blow that Jurgen Klopp has to deal with so many injuries, but Steve Nicol dropped the names who have benefited from it.
Curtis Jones’ improvement at Liverpool
“That’s a tough one,” said Nicol on if Liverpool can cope with injuries.
“I think I said a few weeks ago. I haven’t been giving enough to Liverpool’s squad players. At the start of the season, I didn’t think Liverpool’s squad was deep enough.
“But you don’t sit top of the league in February, and you think of all the injuries they have had all season, then your so-called fringe players have actually done a really good job. I don’t think I have given them enough credit for that. The only thing that would really derail them is more injuries.
“Kelleher has come in and done well. Quansah’s been solid. He has done well. Curtis Jones seems to have taken another step forward. Elliott has come in and done well. Conor Bradley. All of a sudden, they have quietly developed and quite a solid squad, with an exceptional starting XI.”
Curtis Jones to start the League Cup final?
The Reds have a Premier League encounter against Luton Town to deal with on Wednesday night, before they can think about the big one at the weekend.
In truth, given the injuries, this midweek match has come at the wrong time, but it will be interesting to see what type of XI Klopp puts out.
Will he have one mind on Chelsea? Or will he just go as strong as possible?
Either way, this is Jones’ opportunity to enhance his status even further by starting both games, and in particular at Wembley, leading his team to another trophy.
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