Joe Gomez on new LFC contract: Read the full interview

The 19-year-old defender put pen to paper on the deal, with the terms set to come into effect from July 1, 2017, little over 18 months on from completing his switch to the Reds from Charlton Athletic.

Having made a long-awaited return to first-team action earlier in January following a gruelling rehabilitation from anterior cruciate ligament and Achilles injuries, Gomez can once again look to the future with optimism.

That was evident throughout the conversation with the England U21 international, who also explained the strong bond he has forged with the club, where he sees himself playing in the long-term and why there should be faith in the current squad.

LFCTV GO subscribers can watch the interview by clicking play below – or, alternatively, read on for a full transcript of the chat.

Congratulations on signing your new contract – was it a very straightforward decision for you?

Yes, very easy. It is a great club and when it was mentioned about me extending my time here, it’s not something I had to think very long about. I’m very happy it’s done now and I’ll just look to push on.

This deal comes only around 18 months after you signed for the club, so it’s quite a show of faith. What does that mean to you?

It’s massive. It means a lot to me – it’s a massive gesture from the club to show that trust and faith in me. That’s why it was so important I did the same and done it so quickly, because I’m very happy here. I’ve loved living here and playing here and learning under the new manager, so it was a quick decision.

This must feel a little like signing again after what you have been through over the last year or so. Is this a clean slate after your injury?

Yes, it means a lot to me. I’m very grateful to have the opportunity to do so. I had the year where I was injured, so it’s a nice point for me to try to put that behind me now and start afresh by signing this.

There’ll be so many people you owe a debt of gratitude to, so is this as much a celebration for them as for you?

There have been so many people that have helped me from when I came to the club: all the staff, the physios, Matt [Konopinski, physiotherapist], the sports scientists, Dave [Rydings, strength and rehabilitation assistant], Jordan [Milsom, rehab fitness coach] and Andreas [Kornmayer, head of fitness and conditioning] coming in, and the lads. In my period injured with Ingsy, he did a lot and kept me going a lot of the time. The whole team… that’s why it’s such a great place and club to be at, with the family feel and everyone looks out for each other. And obviously the new manager, from when I first came. Being injured under him at first was difficult for me, but since I’ve been back – and also when I was injured – he always looked to speak to me when necessary. I’m glad to be learning under him now. That was another part of why the decision was so easy.

It’s quite an interesting relationship you have with the manager, because you have only played for him a couple of times yet he seems to have so much respect for you. What does that mean to you?

It’s massive for me. Being a young player, it means a lot that he’s shown the faith he has in me. That’s why I’m so keen to keep learning under him, because everyone knows how good he is and that he’s a world-class manager. So, for me to be in the position to learn under him day in, day out, I’m very grateful.

You’ve had a couple of months to work with him now. How different is he to what you have experienced in the past?

He’s very different, but in a very good way. I think that’s what makes him stand out and that’s what has made him the manager he is today. Obviously, he has got his own styles of play, it’s very obvious on the pitch and I think it has clearly been a success so far. Those are the things I’ve had to learn coming back after being injured for so long. He and all the coaching staff have made that very easy for me to do. I’m still doing it now and I want to keep doing that in the future.

Is there a lot to learn?

There is quite a lot, because it’s quite a distinct style of play, as everyone sees out on the pitch. But the way it’s put across to you makes it easy for you and that’s what makes it such a good learning environment for someone like me, being a young player. It’s a good place to learn and develop.

At moments like this, do you have special thanks for the medical department here at the club? They have done so much to help you get to this stage…

Yes, massively. When you’re playing, it’s down to the coaching staff. But when you spend so long injured, your whole world turns towards the physios and having faith in them. Matt Konopinski was someone that took my whole rehab and he kept me going at times, mentally as well as physically. Because it wasn’t easy at times and I had a lot of faith in him; I was thankful to him for getting me back in this position to be able to play again. I have a lot of thanks to him. I owe him a lot.

Has that experience strengthened your bond with Liverpool?

Definitely, because I feel like I’ve been through so much since I’ve been here already. Having that year where I was shown a lot of support and so on from the fans, it made me have a good feeling around the club and made it feel like home to me. Putting that behind me, it’s nice to be back in the position to play and trying to do well for the club. I do feel at home here now and that’s obviously why I’m so happy to stay here for a good few more years.

On your fitness, where are you up to now and how are you feeling?

I feel good, very good. I’m back training normally and have been for a good while now. Obviously, it was nice to get some minutes in the last two FA Cup games. Now it’s about me trying to push on and keep learning – learning from the team. I’ve got good role models in front of me: Dejan, Joel, Ragnar, Lucas and so on. It’s a great environment for me to be in and I’m just trying to learn each day from them, as well as trying to push and challenge them at the same time. It’s good and I feel good.

What are the challenges when you come back after such a long time out? Is it as much mental as physical?

You spend so long thinking about it: your first session, your first tackle and all that. A lot is going through your head. Getting back into the rhythm of doing what you used to do, after being out so long, is probably the hardest. But it has been easy for me – and been made easy for me – by the team and the manager. I’m thankful for that. I’ve been training for a good few months now and played some games. I feel back to myself, I feel good.

When you have played it has been at centre-half. Is that the path for you long-term?

Ideally. That’s where I want to grow and develop, as a centre-back. It has been nice to get the opportunity to play there under the manager – he has been giving me advice and helping me develop to be the best centre-back I can be. It’s nice to get a chance to play there, as well as looking to be versatile because it can only help the team if you can play other positions. But, ideally, going forward and as I get older I’d like to try to make that my position.

You mentioned recently it was all about the ‘little things’ for you. So, although it has been a difficult month for the team, will it be one you always remember as special?

We have had some difficult games and some tough results. But, for me, being able to travel and be on the bench and be involved, like in the game against Manchester United, is massive for me. Just to be in that environment again – it’s something I missed for so long. Although all I wish is for the team to do well, it has been nice for me coming back in and being involved. It’s just about getting the good results now and us pushing on.

Despite the disappointing results, is there a buzz around the club in general, with Philippe Coutinho also signing a new contract this week? Do you expect things of yourselves in the years to come?

It’s obviously a young squad with a lot of potential. Everyone knows how great Phil is, everyone has that feel that he is world-class. For him to commit and show his loyalty to the club has a great feel. That’s obviously something that’s going to make the supporters happy. There’s a good feel around the club because everyone is happy to be here and it feels like the club is going in a great direction under this manager. I think that shows on the pitch. Whether there’s periods where we don’t get the results we want, regardless in the bigger picture the club is moving in a great direction and it’s got all the players and squad to do so. It’s got a great feel around it at the moment.

You’ve made your comeback, you’ve signed a new contract, what are the ambitions now? What’s next?

Keep learning, keep developing and obviously to try to get some more minutes in the team. My main focus is just to keep my head down and keep learning. I know I have a lot left to learn and a long way to go. I’m thankful to be in the position to do it here and I just want to keep doing that now.