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Jordon Ibe hasn't gotten off to a great start to the season for Liverpool, but he's still only 19 and is on track to break into the England senior squad, according to Roy Hodgson. As the Echo points out, Ibe only received his first Under-21 call-up earlier this month, but could still feature with the senior squad in the near future.
"He is someone we have been looking at," Hodgson said. "I want Jordon to fight for his place in the team, like everyone else, but he is certainly a player we like very much, one who we have our eyes on and no (it's) far from impossible that he gets called up in one of the next games."
"Many years ago Stevie mentioned Jordon Ibe to me," Hodgson continued. "He said: ‘We have got this young lad, he is something special.' He had the same feeling about Raheem (Sterling)."
"We must be careful. People take their time. There is competition in his place."
"If he wants to break into our team he will have to keep doing well for Liverpool and maybe keep doing well for the Under-21s and wait his chance. But if you are asking me does he have the potential and ability? Absolutely, 100 per cent."
It's hard to know exactly how to feel about Ibe's improved international standing. The reasonable reaction is to be happy that a Liverpool player is on the verge of having his dreams fulfilled, especially when that player was homegrown. There's also the fear that the Hodgson turn-humans-to-glass factory will strike again. So congratulations Jordon (and please don't break him, Roy)!
