Liverpool’s teenage midfielder Jordan Rossiter has promised to work hard to improve and make himself a part of Jurgen Klopp’s plans, he told the official website.
The youngster emerged as a part of the first-team squad under Brendan Rodgers this season, making promising appearances in the Europa League, but an injury meant he missed out on the new manager’s first match day squad – who drew with Spurs on Saturday.
Like the rest of the squad, Rossiter cannot wait to work with the maverick German, but was quick to praise Rodgers for the departed manager’s role in his development.
Rodgers gave the England youth international his debut last season, and promoted him to Melwood to train with the first-team as well.
“He’s managed in the Champions League, he’s won stuff with Dortmund, and I’m really looking forward to [working with] him. It’s going to be a good experience,” Rossiter told Liverpoolfc.com.
“I thought Brendan Rodgers was brilliant for me, he gave me my chance, over the last couple of years he put me at Melwood.
“I’m sure Jürgen Klopp’s going to be the same, I know he’s given young players a chance and it only bodes well for all the lads at the Academy and the young lads in the first team.”
“Even though I was on international duty, I did want to get home and get cracking on with Liverpool again to be honest,” he added.
“When you’re away you just try to focus and don’t really speak to anybody at the Academy or the first team but I’m just looking forward to getting in and cracking on.
“I just know I need to go in and try to prove to him in training that I can improve, become a better player, and hopefully he likes me.”
Rossiter’s work-rate makes him a viable squad option for the new boss. He’s tenacious and harries opponents in the middle, while playing the ball simply. Of the current first-teamers he’s most similar to Lucas, a player with discipline and defensive nous. Up until Christmas, Klopp could choose to blood Rossiter in the Europa League and League Cup, but the Anfield fixture with Russian outfit Rubin Kazan will sadly come too soon for the youngster due to a fitness issue.