Aldridge: Danny Ings can be a big player for LFC
Injury robbed Danny Ings of the majority of last season, but former Liverpool striker John Aldridge expects him to play a major role in 2016-17.
Ings was struck down by a cruciate ligament injury in Jürgen Klopp's first training session as Reds boss last October, but returned ahead of schedule when he came on as a substitute at West Bromwich Albion on the final day of last term.
The 23-year-old stepped up his recovery over the summer and looked sharp in last Friday's first pre-season friendly, scoring the only goal as Liverpool beat Tranmere Rovers.
Aldridge was heartened to see Ings back in action at Prenton Park and views the versatile forward as a key weapon in Klopp's attacking armoury.
"I'm delighted for the lad. He's put a lot of hard work and effort into getting back to fitness," the ex-Reds No.8 told Liverpoolfc.com.
"It's great being fit but match fitness is completely and utterly different so it was great for him to come back, get 45 minutes and a goal against a team that was trying their best to thwart him.
"If you talk to the ex-players, we've all got a good feeling about the lad - that given a bit of luck he could have a really good season for Liverpool.
"It was a shame the injury came when he'd just got into the team. The Kop really took to him, singing his name, he got into the England set-up and then your world falls apart.
"But sometimes that makes you harder mentally and I hope it has for the lad, because I think he could have a big say in our season.
"The way the manager likes to play, you've got to have someone leading the line and three in behind are going to be creators and goalscorers - and he fits the bill in both situations.
"So the options for Jürgen are brilliant, with [Sadio] Mane coming in as well. You've got [Roberto] Firmino, [Daniel] Sturridge, [Philippe] Coutinho - loads and loads of options for those three places in behind and Danny can lead the line as well."
Aldridge also feels Ings' all-action style marries perfectly with the way Klopp wants his teams to play.
The former Republic of Ireland international added: "He's a workaholic. You look at the way Klopp's managed before… you have to be wanting to go through a brick wall for him, run your socks off, and he's the type of player who'll do that so I'm sure the manager will give him every chance to stake a claim."
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