Robinson: I can make it my own
Jack Robinson has outlined his dream of becoming Liverpool's first-choice left-back for years to come – but has his short-term sights firmly set on making a statement to manager Brendan Rodgers in the coming weeks.
With so many of the Academy youngsters being given first-team opportunities this season, the Warrington-born defender is eager to follow in the footsteps of Raheem Sterling, Andre Wisdom and Suso by mounting a challenge with Jose Enrique and Glen Johnson for a regular senior role.
And with cup matches looming on home turf against Anzhi in the Europa League and Swansea City in the Capital One Cup, Robinson is hoping to get another chance to catch the eye.
He told told Liverpoolfc.com: "I think this is a big chance for me to impress this season.
"This year has been the best year for me. I've been injury free and managed to get a few games for the first team, so it has been really good so far.
"As long as I can keep improving in my game and show the manager what I can do then hopefully he'll give me a few more chances. If I get the chance then I'm sure I can make that position mine one day.
"I am really enjoying working under the manager and he is a really nice person as well. He wants me to show what I can do and put him under pressure in terms of competition for places, so I am just going to work as hard as I can to try and get a place in this team.
"Training every day with the first team is just brilliant and you can learn so much from the senior players."
He added: "Seeing the manager give us young lads this season has given me a lot of confidence. Raheem (Sterling) has been doing fantastic, Suso has done well and Andre (Wisdom) has come in and done well. The confidence is sky high with all the youngsters coming through together.
"We have all come through the Academy and played together at U18 level and now to get that chance at first-team level is just brilliant."
A first-ever European start at Anfield in a red shirt against Udinese earlier this month has given Robinson a taste for more action in the senior side - and he admits Rodgers has given him a lot of confidence.
He said: "I loved playing in that game, especially playing alongside Jamie Carragher who was a big help for me. That made it a whole lot easier for me and playing at Anfield on a European night is something special.
"I used to always watch the European matches on TV and thought that's the place where you want to be."
Robinson was selected for the England U21 squad for the first team last week but illness prevented him being involved in the European U21 Championship play-off matches against Serbia.
He added: "I had the flu so the doctor said not to train, but just being a part of the squad was a fantastic experience.
"Hopefully if I can keep progressing and playing well then I might get another chance with England U21s, but first I have to concentrate on Liverpool and trying to get a place in the team."