Liverpool academy director Alex Inglethorpe has revealed he uses Jon Flanagan as a benchmark for youngsters at the club to aspire to.

A product of the club's academy, Flanagan enjoyed a bright start to his senior Liverpool career before picking up a serious injury while on England duty before the 2014 World Cup.




The right-back has only recently battled back to full fitness, impressing Reds boss Jurgen Klopp along the way and winning a new three-year contract at Anfield.

Inglethorpe is impressed with the upwards curve Flanagan's career has taken, with the defender not willing to allow 20 months on the sidelines to derail his efforts.
 


And as such Inglethorpe believes that Flanagan is the perfect role model for the up and coming youngsters at the club's academy.

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He told Liverpool's official site: "I am hoping Flanno is a huge inspiration to every player at the Academy because at times you do have a bit of a rollercoaster time as a young kid, and they should all look to Jon as a real example of someone who deals with the good times with dignity and the not-so-good times with dignity.

"He just gets on with it and does his work and doesn’t complain or moan.

"He faces every challenge head on, both on and off the pitch, and I think he is a great example to the boys", Inglethorpe added.

Flanagan will be aiming to clock up as much playing time between now and the end of the season as he looks to make the right-back spot his own.