Substitute appearances against Everton and Bournemouth have given Danny Ings fresh optimism in his quest for regular first-team minutes.

The striker was introduced in the second half of the Merseyside derby earlier this month – a first Premier League outing since May 2016 following his rehabilitation from a second serious knee injury since signing for Liverpool.

Ings was unable to find the net as he did at Goodison Park back in his debut season but a subsequent opportunity from the bench during the 4-0 victory over Bournemouth means the Englishman is filled with positivity.

“It’s one of those games [against Everton] that was there for the taking. Going onto the pitch, I thought all I needed was one chance to score against them again,” he told Liverpoolfc.com.

“It didn’t happen but it was good to be out there in front of the Kop and everybody. It was a huge moment for me after everything I’ve been through here.

“Hopefully I can build on that now and get more minutes.”

With competition for attacking berths in Jürgen Klopp’s team as fierce as it ever has been, Ings has clocked up game time with the U23s since the start of the current campaign.

A recent four-goal haul at that level served as a perfect reminder of his clinical finishing – and he retains confidence that good times lay ahead for the senior side too.

The 25-year-old added: “This season has been tough at first but now I’m back to full fitness. I’m feeling good. I’m around the lads a bit more now and joining in. It’s all positive.”