InterviewCurtis Jones on Brighton clash, injury frustration, Cody Gakpo and more

Jürgen Klopp’s squad travel to the American Express Community Stadium on Saturday in Premier League action, with kick-off set for 3pm GMT.

Jones sat down with Liverpoolfc.com to discuss the fixture, his return from injury, Cody Gakpo and much more.

Read on below for a summary…

On how he's feeling after his recent return from injury...

I'm feeling great. As you can see, there's a smile on my face again. I'm excited, of course, and I just can't wait to play the next game.

On his frustration at the injuries he has suffered this season...

Yeah, 100 per cent. As a young kid, I've always been a kid who has never really had injuries. I can't really think back to an injury or a time where I'd been struggling. So, yeah, this season and last, I've not been injured a lot, but it just seems like it's been a long time because of the injuries I have had.

Last season was the time when I got poked in the eye and you don't really hear of that, getting poked in the eye in training to where I wasn't able to actually see for like four days, and then that took eight weeks to clear. Now I've had a stress response, which a specialist has said that you don't see a lot, especially coming back. Now I'm just at the point of where I'm fit again, I'm back on the pitch and I'm able now to play games and be involved in games. It's just a chance now to get my game time and rhythm back. So, I'm really excited.

On his recent appearance for the U21s against Tottenham Hotspur...

First of all, I thank Baz [head coach Barry Lewtas] for allowing me to come down and play. Baz is demanding, of course, you could never say no. It was unfortunate that Calvin [Ramsay] got a red card in the first 20 and then we went a goal down just before half-time and I knew I was meant to play the 45. But then I was thinking, ‘We're a man down.’ I was thinking, ‘Allow me to go and play an extra 20 or so and see what happens.’ But the gaffer was there and said no. It was sensible of him because, of course, he's been told about the bone, so I've got to respect that at the same time.

• Want to watch this video? Subscribe to LFCTV GO now and get a month FREE using the code GOFREE23

On this weekend's Premier League fixture away at Brighton...

A difficult game. The manager has obviously changed, so I don't think they've really 100 per cent found their style of play yet. But with that they're a team that'll be hungry, be ready to fight and will cause a lot of problems. But [it's] the same with us now and you see the little bit of the spell that we're in and the boys are the same. The hunger and the fire is there, so it'll be a good game.

On facing a familiar face in Adam Lallana and his help when he was at Liverpool...

First of all, what a player! I first came around the team when I was 17. There was a lot of the bigger names there I'd say, or ones that were a little bit more known. Of course, Ads was always known, but there were the likes of Sadio, who was there and always scoring goals, Mo, of course, Firmino. But I came into training and [when] I was watching Ads, I was like, 'What's going on here?' It was like a joke; in fact it was joy to watch.

Ads has been a guy around me who has always been a little bit harder on me because he's old school a little bit. He's always had that little bit of [a] thing where if you've done wrong then you'll definitely know. But then at the same time when I was doing well and training well, I was doing the right things, they could see I was a kid who was trying to learn a lot of things. I was doing stuff inside the gym; I was doing stuff on the pitch. Of course, I wasn't a shy kid, so I'd always ask questions and stuff to the lads who were more experienced and Ads was one of them. He helped me out a lot.

On new arrival to the squad, Cody Gakpo...

He's settled in great. He's come in and, of course, he knows there's a little bit of weight on his shoulders in terms of the spell that we're in. He's a young lad who… well I say he's young, he's captained his team and I think he was captain from when he was 21 or something like that. He's young but he's experienced – he's been at the World Cup, he's scored goals and he's been a key player. So he's coming in here now and he's showing that as well in training. I wish him all the best and I think he'll be a big, big part of the team; we definitely need him.

On working alongside him and potentially learning from him...

Yeah, 100 per cent – in fact, we've actually become close. We've spent a lot of time around each other. We sit by each other inside the changing rooms. He's been a kid that I've clicked well with. You know I've got friends that I've played with at England that are at his team – PSV. So, I've heard things about him that I like as well. He's great kid, a humble kid – the full package is there for him. He's an exciting player but at the same time he's a great guy as well.

On the motivation to push himself with the fresh competition...

Yeah, definitely. It's the same as if I'm playing as an eight, there's Thiago there who is playing. He's a world-class player who has been playing there for the whole of his life. I'm battling against people on the left, as an eight, as a six and on the right with the likes of Mo and things like that. So, I'm battling for a place in the team. Cody has come in, he's a big part of the team and he's a really exciting player. There's a battle there but it's exciting as well. I like when the younger lads are doing well and are showing off the ability and talent.

On his target for the rest of the season...

At the beginning of the season I had a goal for goals and assists. I've been unfortunate with the injury. My goal now is to get myself 100 per cent fit and stay fit for the rest of the season. I want to come in and help the team as much as I can. If that's with goals [or] if that's with assists, great. But if that's just being a key player in terms of availability and helping the team as much as I can, I'll do that.