Liverpool youngster Jordon Ibe is hoping to use this pre-season as a springboard for more first-team football next season, Mail Sport reports.
The 19-year-old impressed many during the second half of last season after being recalled from a loan spell at Championship outfit Derby County in January.
He was rewarded with only his second Premier League start in the Merseyside derby against Everton, where he was named as the man-of-the-match in a goalless draw at Goodison Park [via Sky Sports] and would go on to become a permanent fixture in Brendan Rodgers starting XI over the next month.
However, his progress was halted as he picked up a knee ligament injury in the Reds’ Europa League second leg tie against Besiktas which would rule him out for up to four weeks [via Guardian Sport].
Despite a return to fitness in April, Ibe suffered a recurrence of the injury towards the end of the season and was forced to pull out of the England U20 squad for the Toulon Tournament in the summer [via Mail Sport]
Ibe, who signed a new five-year deal with the Reds last season, is currently with the squad on their pre-season tour of the Far East and Australia and is hopeful of filling the void left by Raheem Sterling:
“He’s a good player, I’m happy for him,” Ibe said.
“It’s a chance for me to prove myself to the gaffer and hopefully I can get a chance to play in the Premier League,” the highly-rated Reds youngster added.
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Ibe has certainly impressed in his pre-season outings so far and further enhanced his claim for a regular spot in the team with an assist for Reds summer signing James Milner in the 2-0 win over A-League outfit Adelaide United on Monday morning.