Versatile full back can operate at both left and right back.
Liverpool head coach Brendan Rodgers has revealed that young full-back Jon Flanagan will be handed a new deal at Anfield as a reward for the Englishman’s fine displays at the back so far this season, according to reports in the Guardian.
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The England Under-21 international’s current deal on Merseyside only runs until June 2015, however, Rodgers says that come the end of the campaign, the club will sit down with the 21-year-old and discuss extending his stay.
“Jon will be given a new contract. Come the summer he’s got another year so he will definitely be given a new deal in the summer, no question. He has been outstanding. He reminded me of Steve Nicol against Manchester United on Sunday – a right-footed player on the left side, steady, aggressive, no fear; he’s been a revelation, and particularly in the big games. It’s great when you see a young player develop like that. You can see the confidence he has now. He has made himself an important member of the squad.
“If he keeps his focus and keeps working well he can do that. He was only born in ’93, he’s only very young, but his performance levels are so mature. United had to change [Juan] Mata over at the weekend. He booted Mata over to the other side and then [Adnan] Januzaj as well. He’s not easily fazed.
“I think the biggest thing for me has been his temperament; that is one of his attributes. He never really featured for me at all at the start. There was José Enrique and others considered in front of him but the most impressive thing for me was that the kid just kept going. He showed his determination. We spoke a number of times about him going out on loan but no one came in for him on loan. That didn’t faze him. He went away with the reserves to Seville and was pushing skips through the airport.
“How I work is I will always give players an opportunity. I will never disregard players early, they will always have a chance to show that they care and they can improve and that is what he has done. I had Gareth Southgate down here yesterday and he was raving over him. He is a wonderful young talent but in order to stay at that level he needs to focus and concentrate on staying in the team.”