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Jon Flanagan is on a mission to prove he deserves a new contract at Liverpool as he insisted: “I want to stay here and be a one-club man.”

The 23-year-old full-back marked his first Premier League start for 22 months with a commanding performance in Wednesday’s 3-0 rout of Manchester City at Anfield.

It’s been a long road back to fitness for Flanagan, who underwent two operations on his left knee during a nightmare spell on the sidelines.

His current deal expires at the end of the season and Liverpool have yet to offer him an extension.

However, the Academy graduate says the uncertainty over his future isn’t a distraction ahead of Sunday’s Premier League trip to Crystal Palace.

“Just to get back playing in the Premier League, it was a great feeling,” Flanagan told the ECHO.

“I’d missed that buzz and it’s fantastic every time I pull on the shirt for Liverpool.

“When your chance comes you have to take it and I was satisfied with how it went. The manager gave me a chance and I was happy with my performance.

“I’m just focused on my football and letting my agent deal with the contract side of things. I just have to do my stuff on the pitch and show the manager what I can do.”

Flanagan, who grew up just a few hundred yards from Anfield and joined the Academy at the age of 11, wants to follow in the footsteps of Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher, who dedicated their careers to the Reds.

However, with no new contract on the table, there is the growing possibility that he may need to consider his options. If he does move on, it would be with a heavy heart. “I feel very privileged to be here,” he said.

“It was always my dream to play for Liverpool. I pinch myself every day when I think about what I’ve done so far but hopefully there’s a lot more to come.

“Carra and Stevie were both massive for me. From the first day I went to Melwood, they were giving me great advice and guiding me.

“Being local lads themselves, they knew the situation I was in. I learned so much from them.

“I’m a local lad and this is my club. I want to stay here and help Liverpool win trophies. I want to be a one-club man.”

Flanagan made his comeback against Exeter City in the FA Cup in January but Wednesday night was the first time Jurgen Klopp had called upon him for league action.

He took less than 30 seconds to make his mark with a crunching challenge on former team-mate Raheem Sterling.

Flanagan nullified the threat of the £49million winger to such an extent that Sterling was hauled off at half-time.

The defender insists it was nothing personal – his only motivation was ensuring that Liverpool bounced back after their Wembley heartache in the Capital One Cup final.

“The ball was just there to be won,” he said.

“It got the crowd going and all the lads followed. Raheem is a good lad and one of my mates, but business is business.

We knew that we owed City one

“I missed Raheem after. I would have liked to have a chat with him but he had already gone.

“We all knew before the game how big it was after what happened in the final. After the defeat on Sunday everyone knew that we owed City one.

“We had to put that right. To come out 3-0 winners was the perfect way to bounce back.”

Klopp is adamant that Liverpool have to be careful with Flanagan after so long out and manage his game time.

However, the full-back is desperate to keep his place for Sunday’s trip to Selhurst Park. Flanagan says playing twice a week isn’t an issue with his knee no longer troubling him.

“Maybe that was the case when I was just coming back, but now I feel fit, ready and raring to go,” he said.

“I’m ready for Sunday. The knee isn’t a problem at all.

“Most of the lads have two recovery days after a game. That’s not an issue.

“I’m pretty much on the same schedule. Maybe just one or two days here and there are different, but I am available. I’ve been available for every game since January. I feel great.

“I’ve been through a lot. There were days when I wondered if I would ever play for Liverpool again. When the club sign a full-back you think: ‘Is my time up? Am I going to be able to get back in?’

“But I stuck at it. It was mentally tough but I never gave up. It was horrible but I got through it and those days are gone.”

Flanagan was “gutted” to miss out on a place in Liverpool’s Europa League squad when it was re-submitted to UEFA last month.

With Klopp facing a centre-back injury crisis around that time, the Reds boss opted to pick Steven Caulker instead.

It means Flanagan will be denied the opportunity to face Manchester United in next Thursday’s mouthwatering first leg at Anfield. As a result Sunday’s showdown at Palace takes on extra significance.

“Of course I’d have loved to play against United but that’s not going to be possible,” he added.

“I’ll be there cheering the lads on and we’ve certainly got a squad capable of going all the way in the Europa League. I fancy our chances against United over two legs.

“Not being able to play in Europe makes every Premier League game even more important to me.

“After Sunday, I can’t play again for two weeks. That’s not good. I have to make the most of every opportunity when it comes along.”

* Flanagan was speaking at a special event at Liverpool Hope University for LLS, who specialise in the delivery of primary school sport and sixth form courses. He spoke to students about his rise up through the ranks at Liverpool and his hopes for the future.

LLS’ aim is to increase participation in school sport and train the next generation of professional sporting role models. In 2015 some 29,000 children from over 120 schools participated in LLS sessions across the North West of England, North Wales and Northern Ireland.

The company took a group of 30 teenagers to Finland for a coaching placement and plans are in place for a trip to Brazil in 2017.

LLS head of marketing, Marc Garnett said: “The event was a great success with guests leaving both motivated and inspired by Jon’s story. We can’t thank him enough for giving his time to assist in the development of our sixth form students’.

If you are currently in Year 11 or aged 16 to 18 and passionate about sport, LLS are holding invitation only taster sessions in March. You can apply to attend and discuss your future aspirations by emailing Garnett at: marc.garnett@llsonline.uk