Jordon Ibe: Brendan Rodgers key to my development at Liverpool

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Liverpool starlet Jordon Ibe has offered his support to under-fire manager Brendan Rodgers, praising the manager for the role he’s played in helping him develop from Championship wonderkid to Premier League star.

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The 20-year-old started the season on loan at Derby County, with just three first-team appearances for the Reds to his name. However, Rodgers recalled him at the start of the calendar year and has helped him make an easy transition into Premier League football.

Ibe has since made ten Liverpool appearances this season, turning in a number of impressive performances, most notably during the Merseyside derby against Everton, where he came closer than anyone to breaking the deadlock.

Indeed, the youngster would likely have featured more regularly if it were not for an injury sustained against Besiktas in the Europa League back in February, a knock which kept him out for almost two months.

Rodgers recently described Ibe as a ‘very important’ part of the squad, leading the youngster to respond in turn. In quotes on our official website, he said: “It gives me a lot of confidence. I’m happy the gaffer thinks of me that way and hopefully I can just do what he thinks I can do on the pitch, do well and try to get goals for the team.

“He’s given me the chance to play in the first-team and I’m enjoying it and learning from all the players. I feel I can take this into next season and keep playing and doing well.

“He’s told me at times, ‘Don’t back down from going at a player’. If there’s 10 opportunities to go at a player and I lose it nine times, he said the 10th time hopefully I’ll go past the player.

“It gives me the confidence and freedom when I’m in the final third to express myself and try to do something positive – get a goal or whip it in for someone to score.”

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