Liverpool's Danny Ings 'is a role model' to young players

Casemiro opens up on why he nearly CANCELLED his £70m move to Man United from Real Madrid... as the Brazilian star reveals an emotional chat with Carlo Ancelotti almost changed his mind
Ratcliffe's revolution continues! Man United confirm appointment of Jason Wilcox as new technical director after agreeing compensation with Southampton and will start new role with immediate effect
Cole Palmer was asking to leave Man City for TWO seasons, reveals Pep Guardiola... as he admits he 'didn't give the Chelsea star the minutes he deserved'
PHIL FODEN on the very personal reason why he wears No 47, how he deals with the relentless Pep Guardiola... and he finally settles a Man City myth
Arsenal's April curse strikes again! SAMI MOKBEL reveals exactly what needs to change for Mikel Arteta to win major honours
Can Leicester return to the top of the Championship? The Foxes are 1/2 favourites with Sky Bet to return to winning ways and beat play-off hopefuls West Brom
Man United target names the Red Devils as a club he'd love to play for, despite snubbing Erik ten Hag's advances for TWO YEARS... with Premier League rivals also on his list
Lower-league clubs could BOYCOTT the FA Cup in fury after the Premier League and The FA agreed to scrap replays in the hallowed tournament
Michael Schumacher's incredible watch collection 'is set to be auctioned by his family' with eight of his unique timepieces 'expected to fetch an estimated £5M'
Tired? Give it a rest. If Man City keep talking about feeling jaded then they'll start to believe they are, writes GRAEME SOUNESS
Coventry have been penniless, homeless and at war with their owners but, like the city bombed in 1940, they have risen from the rubble to set up their semi-final date with Man United
Newcastle star Bruno Guimaraes hints he will STAY at the club after splashing £4MILLION on house in the North East - as Premier League rivals prepare to tempt Brazil star away from Tyneside
Man City 'are already preparing for life after Pep Guardiola and have identified LaLiga boss as a potential successor to the Spaniard when he leaves the Etihad'
New footage shows Xabi Alonso and his Bayer Leverkusen staff reacting to finding out Europa League semi-final opponent, as footage prompts fans to warn German champions about underestimating Roma
Chelsea 'are set to rival Man City for Jamal Musiala' as Blues look to bring former youth star back to England after starring for Bayern Munich
Jack Grealish issues rallying cry after Champions League penalty heartbreak and insists 'tiredness is in the mind' as Man City face FA Cup showdown with Chelsea
Bayern Munich are 'one step away' from appointing Zinedine Zidane as manager... with Frenchman also monitoring managerial situation at Manchester United
Arsenal legend Ian Wright reveals what Mikel Arteta's inexperienced side must learn following their Champions League exit... and the type of player they need in their trophy quest
Not since Diego Maradona have Argentina had a pantomime villain to match wind-up merchant Emiliano Martinez... but his £16m move to Aston Villa is one of Arsenal's daftest decisions
Barcelona legend urges the club to hire Jose Mourinho to replace Xavi despite history managing rivals Real Madrid... as he explains why he would be a 'great signing 'at the Nou Camp
KATHRYN BATTE: Eni Aluko does not speak for all fans by claiming UK stadiums are 'not safe for women'... but football must recognise and support those who have experienced abuse
Phil Foden sends warning to rivals Arsenal and Liverpool as Man City star tells Mail Sport he wants to make Premier League history with training ground sign spurring him on
Joey Barton reveals he's been visited by police 'four times in three days' over his tweets and hits out at 'an attempt to intimidate me and my family'... as he compares the UK to North Korea
'Good harvesting this week my fellow farmers': Mats Hummels takes a swipe at the Premier League after FOUR English teams crashed out of Europe this week

Danny Ings is finding his match sharpness with the Liverpool Under 23 squad
Boss Neil Critchley says the forward is a 'role model' to the club's youngsters
Ings has played just 17 first-team minutes this season as he recovers from injury

By Carl Markham, Press Association Sport

Published: 04:37 EDT, 20 November 2017 | Updated: 07:22 EDT, 20 November 2017

e-mail

Liverpool striker Danny Ings' journey back to first-team football has been a long one but his absence is proving to be a benefit for the club's youngsters.

The 25-year-old has played just 17 minutes of a Carabao Cup tie this season, having managed only two substitute appearances in the previous year.

The sum total of his pitch time since a serious knee injury ruled him out for seven months in his debut campaign.

Danny Ings is having a big influence on younger players at Liverpool as he regains sharpness

Another knee injury proved a setback a year ago but having regained full fitness he is regaining his match sharpness for Liverpool's Under-23s.

He has helped them to a five-point lead at the top of Premier League 2.

The attitude he has shown playing for the reserves has impressed manager Neil Critchley.

'Danny is brilliant for the younger lads. You just pass information on to Danny and he will pass it onto the lads for you, he's like a coach on the pitch,' he said.

'You forget Danny is only 25 himself and has plenty of years left on him but he is very mature for his age and I think his all-round performances get better all the time.

The striker is recovering from a knee injury by playing with the club's Under 23 squad

He added: 'He is looking fitter and more confident about himself so I'm delighted with Danny.

'Danny is chasing back in the last minute and helping out for the team. He is a great influence in the dressing room.

'He sets the bar for all the other players all round him and there's no excuse for anyone else when he's chasing all over the pitch and closing down the centre-halves.

'He is a great role model for our younger players.'