Curtis Jones explains why he 'couldn't wait' to return after U21 Euros success
Curtis Jones was eagerly counting down the days to his return to the Liverpool squad after an unforgettable summer.
The 22-year-old received a warm welcome from his teammates when he reported to the team's training camp in Germany on Thursday, fresh from winning the U21 European Championship with England.
Now back with his boyhood club, Jones is looking to pick up from where he left off, having enjoyed an extremely strong finish to the 2022-23 campaign.
The Scouser made 11 consecutive starts and produced a haul of three goals and an assist from midfield within that spell.
"I'm ready, definitely," Jones told Liverpoolfc.com. "I couldn't wait to get back.
"I saw the lads training on Instagram and then I saw the game as well. I couldn't wait to be part of the team again and get around the team and the staff and to go and play that first game.
"It's amazing [to be back]. A few of the lads had said, 'Your break was only small.' But I was fine.
"I had a good run at the end of the season, I then went away with England, did well there, so now I'm back and I can't wait to get started."
Jones was a key figure in England's success at the U21 Euros, producing Player of the Match displays in the semi-final and final.
Playing with club teammate Harvey Elliott, he made five starts for Lee Carsley's side and earned a spot in the Team of the Tournament.
The No.17 is now keen for another taste of success in the upcoming season.
He continued: "I've already spoken about the time when I first went [to the U21 Euros], I think I was 19 and we didn't get out of the group.
"So I know what it's like to go there and not do well, so the aim was to go there and put down a marker and get around the lads who were there for the first time.
"But in all fairness, the team was unbelievable, we did well, didn't even concede a goal. Happy days.
"Since I've been around our team, I'd always been in finals and stuff. I'm in a position now and a team as well, of course, where our aim is to always be in big games, and that includes the semi-finals and finals.
"We've got a good enough team to win the biggest games, so it's definitely a goal."
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