Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones is celebrating his first ever call-up to the senior England squad.
Jones has been included in Gareth Southgate’s 33-man training camp ahead of Euro 2024. Seven players will be cut before the final squad.
With it being his debut in the group, it feels likely that Jones will be one of those in serious danger of being chopped out. Nevertheless, the 23-year-old will be desperate to make an impression.
The call-up is certainly overdue for Jones, who has been part of the Liverpool first-team for five years now. Although he’s had a stop-start season, it’s just reward for the academy graduate’s progress.
Interestingly, that assessment appears to be shared by a player who is reportedly on Liverpool’s watchlist for the summer transfer window.
Anthony Gordon congratulates Curtis Jones
Although this is his first involvement with the senior team, Jones is of course an experienced player at junior international level.
The Scouser was a key player for England during their Euro U21’s win last summer. He even scored the winning goal in the final.
Jones probably had a decent shout at winning the tournament’s best player award. However, he was pipped by fellow Scouser Anthony Gordon.
Gordon then used that as a platform to go on and have an excellent season with Newcastle United. After scoring 11 goals and providing 10 assists in the Premier League, the 23-year-old has since been linked with Liverpool.
And if the Reds are trying to woo Gordon, then it looks like Jones could be of use.
Taking to his Instagram stories on Tuesday evening, the Newcastle man shared a picture of he and Jones celebrating their tournament win last summer. “Congrats brother, well deserved,” says Gordon.
Liverpool told Anthony Gordon price-tag
This time last year, no Liverpool fan would have been even slightly interested in Gordon.
Following his time with Everton, the flying winger was not exactly the most popular man at Anfield.
However, fast forward a year, and you can see exactly where Gordon could fit in at Liverpool. He now has the look of a top player in the making.
Newcastle aren’t silly though, and there have been claims that the Magpies currently value their No.10 at £100m.
At that kind of price, there’s surely no way for Liverpool and Gordon this summer. In the future, perhaps a return to Merseyside and a link-up with Jones could beckon. But it won’t be any time soon.