Emmet Gates has tipped Curtis Jones to become a first-team regular at Liverpool in the future, but has called for patience.
It's been almost three years since the midfielder made his senior debut for the Reds and he's since gone on to play more than 50 times for his boyhood club.
How has Jones fared this season?
Following on from his most productive campaign as a Liverpool first-team player, Jones endured a difficult start to the 2021-2022 season having not been involved in the first four Premier League matches, although partly due to suffering concussion in pre-season.
But since marking his first start of the season by scoring at Brentford, Jones has started all but two league games.
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Furthermore, the 20-year-old is proving himself on the Champions League stage, grabbing two assists in a match of the match performance against Porto last month.
Jones, who's been directly involved in four goals in just 608 minutes this term, has been making the most of Liverpool's injury problems, with Thiago Alcantara and Fabinho both out injured.
But the Reds academy graduate, valued at £27m by Transfermarkt, is clearly trusted by Jurgen Klopp, starting the draw with Man City and playing 64 minutes in the hammering at Manchester United.
When Liverpool have a fully fit squad, though, it's unlikely that Jones would be named in Klopp's best XI, but Gates is confident that could change in the future.
What did Gates say?
He told GIVEMESPORT: "There is definitely potential for him to become a regular first-team player in the midfield at this stage, but how many players down the years have we thought that in two three years and then faith intervenes, and they pick up an injury and they're not the same player.
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"But on performances this season there is a definite player in there, but he needs time to develop, and patience is needed."
How good could Jones end up?
Not many players have played more than 50 matches for Liverpool before their 21st birthday, especially in a squad that has won the Champions League and Premier League in recent years.
Furthermore, Jones is performing against the best. It's all good doing it in Carabao Cup games or against the lesser top-flight teams, but the midfielder is proving himself against the best of the best, notably claiming an assist against City, although he had Mohamed Salah to thank for that.
Liverpool's midfield department is one of the most talented in the Premier League, but Jones is already holding his own and as Gates mentioned, there's no reason he can't keep getting better providing he remains injury free and continues to progress.