Ibe explains early return to training
Jordon Ibe has promised his breakthrough season at Anfield was 'just the start' and he is out to make a big impact during the coming campaign.
The 19-year-old spent the first half of 2014-15 with Derby County, having agreed a season-long loan deal with the Championship side.
But, such was the winger's impact at the iPro Stadium, Brendan Rodgers brought him back to Merseyside early and went on to use him in the first team on 14 occasions.
Ibe might even have featured more had it not been for a month-long lay-off due to a knee problem and his form was subsequently rewarded with a new long-term deal in May.
However, despite breaking into the senior setup at Liverpool on a regular basis for the first time since moving to the club as a 16-year-old, the forward isn't resting on his laurels.
He is already working on improving his goalscoring return and will work through his summer break to achieve that aim.
"I’m hoping this is just the start for me," he told the Official Liverpool FC Magazine.
"I want to play in lots of games. I’d like to play in the Champions League eventually.
"But I know I’ve got to start chipping in with goals. I realise this season we haven’t scored enough. If you score goals, it’s easier to win matches.
"And from a personal point of view, if you score goals it’s a lot more difficult for the manager to leave you out.”
On his summer plans, the England U20 international added: "I’ll have a few breaks abroad and recharge the batteries if it’s possible. But I’m coming back in early.
"I’ll be working with Alex Inglethorpe on my shooting. I know I need to improve on every aspect of my game.
"But I know too that goalscoring gives you confidence. It can lift other parts of your game to new levels.
"I want to give myself every chance of starting next season in form already.
"I don’t take my position for granted and I certainly don’t consider myself an established first-team player just because I’ve signed a new contract."
It is not just Ibe's ability on the ball that has caught the eye of Kopites since his return to the club in January.
The teenager has also evidenced remarkable physical strength for a player of his age - but he insists it is a natural gift.
"I don’t do any extra gym work," he continued.
"I’m lucky I was born this way and if you hammer it, you’ll go too big and lose that bounce in your speed. I’m quite relaxed about it.
"I know a few of the lads use the gym quite a lot and I can understand why because the Premier League is very demanding physically. You have to be ready for the battle."