England Under-21 trophy hero a ‘no-brainer’ for Euro 2024 squad – and here’s how he compares to Southgate favourites
JURGEN KLOPP’S assistant reckons it is a “no-brainer” for England to take Curtis Jones to the Euros.
And anyone who witnessed the midfielder inspiring his country to an Under-21 European Championship title in the summer would also back the Scouser for a shock call-up for the seniors.
Particularly with the own goal Jordan Henderson has scored with his Saudi gaffe, which could end up costing the 33-year-old his own seat on the plane to Germany.
Henderson, who captained Jones, 22, at Liverpool is on a salvage operation to prove he can still cut it at the top level by joining Ajax after his Al-Ettifaq cock-up.
Gareth Southgate stuck by Hendo even after he went to the Saudi Pro League.
So he is unlikely to deviate from the 81-cap ace now he is back in Europe. Same goes for West Ham-bound Kalvin Phillips.
Yet central midfield does seem an area where the Three Lions are not stacked with undroppable stars — opening the door for an emerging talent like Jones.
Pep Lijnders, No2 to Klopp at Anfield, is in no doubt the whizkid, who turns 23 on Tuesday, should be selected.
When asked if he can sneak into Southgate’s Euros squad, the Dutchman replied: “That’s a no-brainer. He is one of the most decisive players in the team with and without the ball.
“He is the player who always shows up. Curtis is still young but he acts like a senior player.”
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Jones’ maturity is a credit to himself but also a by-product of the experience he has racked up at such a tender age.
Born in Toxteth, the same inner-city area of Liverpool that produced Robbie Fowler, he became only one of two Scousers to reach 100 appearances for his local club since Steven Gerrard burst onto the scene in 1998. The other is, of course, Trent Alexander-Arnold.
And yet Jones, who joined the club at Under-9 level, had a slower integration into the first-team than those two greats.
That was despite a debut in the FA Cup third-round aged 17 in 2019 and then hitting a match-winner a year later at the same stage of the competition in a 1-0 win — against none other than bitter rivals Everton.
Jones wanted more game-time but back then Klopp already had one of the best midfield threes in Europe, including a prime Henderson.
The German also wanted the youngster to work on his defensive side first. Gerrard, who coached him when he was Liverpool Under-18s boss, helped with that.
Now, he is a pressing machine who is regarded by the England U21 hierarchy as good as anyone in the Prem at the breathless discipline.
Reflecting on his journey in November, Jones said: “I was a kid who came in and pressing and defending were never a thing for me! Now Klopp’s picking up on it loads, it just goes to show how much I’ve actually changed.”
Jones has also started to add goals to his game with four in his last seven appearances, including one in the first leg against Fulham.
Curtis is still young but he acts like a senior player.
Pep Ljinders
And he went on to explain how he now feels like one of the more experienced midfielders in Klopp’s dressing room given how many new faces have arrived at the club in the last year — even if all but Ryan Gravenberch are older than him.
Underpinning his impressive campaign for the Reds was his triumphant time with the U21s in the summer in Georgia.
Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon may have won player of the tournament but Jones was hands-down England’s best player.
Despite being a natural No 10, he dominated every game he played from a deep-lying midfield position alongside Angel Gomes.
Lille’s Gomes claimed the pair spoke the same “language” of football” and Jones went on to score the winner in the final against Spain.
Young Lions manager Lee Carsley, 49, is a big believer in Jones’ talents.
The former Everton man — who used to play in the middle of the park himself — appreciates the way Jones can dribble like a winger which is difficult for opposing central midfielders to deal with.
He also admires the Kop star’s bravery to take the ball anywhere, his end product and his character.
Carsley even challenged Jones in 2022 to step up his game for the Young Lions, knowing that he was capable of more. He said at the time: “I expect more from him because I’ve been lucky to work with some talented players.
“Players that are almost, like, your middle of the road ones, when they do well, you’re like ‘That was brilliant, well done’.
“But the really talented ones, when they do well you actually want them to do better. You push them more than the players that are striving to get there.”
Jones met those expectations last summer, is surpassing them this season and with the Reds 2-1 up ahead of tonight’s Carabao Cup second leg against the Cottagers will be aiming to land more silverware.
Whether he has done enough to gatecrash England’s Euros party remains to be seen — but an eventual senior call-up seems a certainty.