Jack Robinson is looking to follow in the footsteps of his good friend Jon Flanagan and push for a place in the first team.

The England U21 international is hoping to impress Brendan Rodgers during the Reds pre-season tour of North America, and after admitting the spell at Blackpool has matured him as a player, he is now looking to emulate Flanagan's phenomenal ascent last year.



Speaking from their base in Chicago, Robinson told Liverpoolfc.com: "Look at Flanno and the way his season changed within a few months [of last season]. I was made up for him when he come in and done ever so well for the team and got himself in the England team.

"It gives you hope, to know that if you do the right things then you can maybe follow in his footsteps.

"Coming back into the Liverpool team is going to be a big jump for me but all I can do is go into training, impress the manager and see what he thinks.

"It has given me a lot of experience being in that league [Championship]. It makes you grow up more - you had to wash your own kit at Blackpool and you don't get that treatment here! But no, joking aside, it makes you more mature as a player on the pitch; you've got to take things into your own hands. It was an all-round good experience.

"It's a tough league to play in. I got games, that's the main thing and now I need to move on and impress the manager this season. I've been working hard in training so it's up to him now to decide on my future."

Liverpool take on Greek champions Olympiacos at the famous Soldier Field on Sunday evening - home of the Chicago Bears - and after arriving in the Windy City, Robinson was suitably impressed by both the stadium and the warm welcome the squad received.

He said: "There were hundreds of them outside the hotel, but it's good. It's good for the young lads as well - Adam Phillips has come up and he's impressed me in training as well; he's a really good player. It must be a delight for him to come on trips like this and see what the fans are like in other countries.

"It's an absolutely massive stadium, I don't think I've ever seen one this big. It's an American football stadium so it's going to be big, but the pitch is lovely so I think it's going to be a good game."