Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones is experiencing a tough start to the Premier League season.

The 22-year-old was impressive last season, pushing the club up the table and close to Champions League football.

While they only finished in the Europa League places, Jones would have assumed he would get similar game time this term.

Instead, he has been on the periphery, playing on four Premier League games from the start so far.

The youngster, however, has been dealing with injury problems that have derailed his progress.

“Similar to Cole (Palmer), I'm not surprised one bit (by how he's doing)," England U21s boss Lee Carsley recently told reporters of the Liverpool midfielder.

“Curtis would be up there with the most talented players I've worked with.

“He's got everything that you need as a midfielder. He can run, he is very, very fast, he's powerful, he can score, he can assist, he can defend, he can take the ball - all he needs is opportunity.

“The way he's played when I've seen him play, he's been outstanding. He just needed to stay fit.

“I know he's struggled sometimes with that consistency of playing but to see him take that form that he showed in the summer, that responsibility, the understanding of the position, into playing for Liverpool is brilliant to see."