’Arry: Jake will make it for England
HARRY REDKNAPP is convinced that Tottenham’s rising star Jake Livermore has all the makings of an England international of the future.
Injuries to Sandro and Tom Huddlestone at the start of the season meant Livermore was thrust into first-team action ahead of schedule and the 22-year-old has not looked back since.
Livermore’s only previous experience of first-team football at Spurs came in the form of a one-minute cameo against Stoke in 2010 and a Carling Cup start against Arsenal, but he has played 29 games this season – 17 of which have been starts. Spurs boss Redknapp has talked regularly over the last few years about how disappointed he is that so few of the club’s academy products have gone on to become firstteam regulars and star at international level.
Ledley King is the only player who has fulfilled that ambition in recent years, but Redknapp is sure that Livermore can follow in his captain’s footsteps.
“Livermore could be an England man,” said Redknapp.
Ability
“The sky is the limit for Jake. His attitude is so good. He wants to get to the top and when you have that type of attitude there is no reason why he can’t do it.”
Livermore showed maturity beyond his years to command Spurs midfield against a Man United team including Michael Carrick and Paul Scholes on Sunday.
The Enfield-born midfielder was shipped out on loan no fewer than five times before moving up to the first team, and Redknapp admits his predecessors thought Livermore was a lost cause.
“Some people were tending to write him off, but when I came here from day one I found him to be a fantastic boy.”