ONLY two years after attending a trial with Liverpool at the age of 15, Lloyd Jones has already had a taste of life in the first team squad at Anfield.
Jones has already achieved so much since the five-times European champions signed him from Plymouth Argyle's centre of excellence in the summer of 2011.
He featured for Liverpool's under-18s side during the 2011/12 season, even though he was still only 15.
Then, last term, he played regularly for the Reds at under-18 level and in the NextGen series – a Champions League-style tournament for under-19s teams from top European clubs – as well as lining up for the under-21s.
To top all of that off, the 6ft 3in centre-back was an unused substitute for Liverpool in their penultimate Premier League game of last season, a 3-1 win at Fulham.
Powerful in the air and with the ability to confidently bring the ball out of defence, Jones has earned widespread plaudits for his performances.
Former England and Liverpool defender Mark Wright is one of those to have picked out the 17-year-old as one to watch for the future at Anfield.
Liverpool clearly rate him highly, with Jones recently signing a professional contract until the summer of 2016, allowing him plenty of time to focus on his continued development as a defender of some potential.
Jones had to leave family and friends behind in his hometown of Plymouth when he was snapped up by Liverpool in May 2011.
He moved in with house parents in Rainford, a village on the outskirts of Liverpool, and attended Rainhill High School in Prescot for a year before starting out as a full-time academy player.
Jones had featured for Argyle under-18s as a 15-year-old Devonport High School for Boys student when he was invited on trial by Liverpool in May 2011.
He impressed the Reds' academy staff and the Premier League club wasted no time in making their move for him.
Jones told Herald Sport: "I didn't even know about the trial. I remember being at school one day and my dad came in to see my headteacher, Mr Earley.
"I was thinking 'what have I done wrong?' I got called in to see them and my dad just said 'you have got a trial for Liverpool'. It was as basic as that.
"I was in shock really and couldn't stop smiling from then on."
Jones had a three-day trial, which saw him take part in two training sessions at Liverpool's academy at Kirkby, and play in a game against Wigan Athletic.
The next day, Jones was offered a scholarship and he readily accepted.
Moving so far away from home at such a young age would have been daunting for anyone, but Jones was determined to make the most of the opportunity given to him by one of the world's most famous clubs.
Jones, whose father was a county rugby player and senior lecturer at the University of St Mark and St John, said: "Because I was doing what I loved doing, it made it easier.
"It was very hard at the start because I was only 15 and I missed my family and friends, but the football distracted me from it. I didn't tend to think about it.
"Liverpool are brilliant. They make you feel so at home. Straight away, you feel part of the team. I had to move schools as well.
"I went to Rainhill High and Liverpool had an arrangement with them where you could leave school sometimes to play football and train."
By the summer of 2012, Jones had made such an impact in Liverpool's academy they offered him a new deal.
That was 12 months as a scholar followed by a two-year professional contract.
Jones did not rest on his laurels, though, and ended up playing seven times for the under-21s last season, at the age of 17.
He also featured regularly for the Reds in the NextGen Series as they played against clubs such as Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan and Sporting Lisbon.
However, Jones thought the pick of his performances last season came in the FA Youth Cup quarter-final away to Hull City.
He scored one of the goals as the Reds won 3-0 at the KC Stadium, setting up a two-legged semi-final against Chelsea, which they lost on aggregate.
Jones, whose younger brother Owen will be in Argyle's under-16s squad next season, admitted what he achieved in 2012/13 had surpassed all his expectations.
He said: "As a first-year scholar, you want to play for the under-18s regularly.
"You do think about playing in the NextGen Series and the under-21s but sometimes it's a bit out of your reach in the academy because there are older players. I definitely surpassed my expectations last season.
"There is massive competition for places in the academy. There are three, left-wingers in the under-18s, three on the right and there are four centre-backs my age."
Jones still has a lot of work ahead of him to try to make the grade at Liverpool and become a first-team regular, but he has already been compared by some on Merseyside to legendary Reds' defender Alan Hansen.
He said: "When I hear these comments, I don't really let it affect me, but it does give me confidence and makes me want to improve even more."
Another Liverpool legend is Jamie Carragher, who retired at the end of last season after spending the whole of his career at his hometown club.
Carragher, who made 737 first team appearances for the Reds over 17 years, has willingly offered advice and encouragement to Jones.
Jones said: "When I was in the squad against Fulham, he talked to me before training, after training, before the match. He gives you so much confidence."
His inclusion in the senior squad against Fulham came as a complete surprise.
He was training at the academy the day before when Liverpool's under-21s boss Alex Inglethorpe, the former Exeter City boss, called him over and told him about it.
He dashed home, picked up a club tracksuit and went to Liverpool's training ground at Melwood.
After an hour-long training session with the first-team squad and a pre-match meeting, he and the rest of the Liverpool players travelled to London by train for an overnight hotel stay before the game at Craven Cottage.
Goalkeeper Pepe Reina and England midfielder Stewart Downing made Jones feel particularly at home among the senior professionals as they prepared to face Fulham.
Jones was assigned the number 51 shirt for the match and although he did not get onto the pitch it was still a memorable occasion for him.
He said: "Going there, I was thinking I was going to be in the squad, but when we had the team meeting before the game I was on the bench.
"It was the biggest crowd at a game I have been involved in and it was a great atmosphere.
"I did take a bit of stick from the Fulham fans when I was warming up. I don't know why. Perhaps I was in their way."
England striker Daniel Sturridge scored a hat-trick for Liverpool as they beat Fulham. "He was definitely on fire that game," said Jones.
Being around the Reds' first-team squad, and especially their inspirational captain Steven Gerrard, has certainly been an invaluable experience for the teenage defender from Plymouth.
Jones said: "You could be sitting next to them after training, having lunch, and you just learn little things all the time, especially from Steven Gerrard. I'm in awe of him.
"He's my favourite ever player. He's very quiet but he always says 'hello'. He has got to be a Liverpool legend."
After achieving so much last season, Jones is realistic about setting targets for next term.
He said: "I may not get on the bench. It may not happen for me. I just want to keep improving as a player.
"I will still be under-18 next season, but I want to play regularly for the under-21s.
"If I can establish my name in the under-21s then, hopefully, I can move up to Melwood over the next two years.
"I just want to have another solid season and, hopefully, it will stand me in good stead."
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers demonstrated last season he was not afraid to play talented but inexperienced youngsters in the Premier League.
Raheem Sterling (18) and Andre Wisdom (20) were two examples of that, as was one of Jones's best mates, Jordan Ibe.
The 17-year-old midfielder made his debut when he started the season-ending 1-0 win against relegated Queens Park Rangers at Anfield.
Jones said: "If you are going to work hard and, if I'm honest, if you are good enough, then he (Rodgers) will give you that chance and you have just got to take it."
