The Liverpool midfielder marked his England debut in style, scoring a brilliant goal in a 3-0 win over Greece in the Euro qualifiers.
Jones, 23, personified composure and creativity when he stylishly flicked Morgan Gibbs-White’s cross behind him into the net, capping an exceptional performance that drew praise from all quarters.
Gerrard, who managed Jones during his time coaching Liverpool’s U18s, took to Instagram to express his delight. “What a player,” he wrote. “Fine the FA and all the coaches for being late.”
Lee Carsley, England’s interim manager, was equally impressed.
Speaking to ITV, he said: “Curtis Jones is an outstanding player. Even without his goal, he played really well. With his goal, it was an excellent performance. People talked about the squad’s inexperience, but these players are competing at a very high level for their clubs.”
Jones credited his teammates for enabling his free-flowing display, singling out Jude Bellingham for providing cover that allowed him to attack.
“I can go high, I can come low, I can get on the ball,” Jones explained. “Jude stayed back, and I saw a chance to go. I just played free, had a smile on my face, and luckily scored.”
Jones’ rise has been underpinned by Gerrard’s early guidance. The Liverpool legend played a pivotal role in shaping his mentality, setting the foundation for Jones to excel on the international stage.