15 QUESTIONS WITH JACK HOBBSSteve Hunter 13 November 2005
Signed by Liverpool on his 17th birthday, Jack Hobbs is just one of a new crop of Kop kids hoping to make their name with the European Champions. Here, in an exclusive interview, liverpoolfc.tv puts him on the spot.
1. First of all Jack, how much are you enjoying life with Liverpool? "It's going very well for me. I'm enjoying it every day and it feels good."
2. Is it everything you expected it to be? "It's more! The facilities here are excellent and there are some quality players and I'm enjoying it."
3. Being based at Melwood, have you spoken much with the manager Rafael Benitez and the senior players? "Yes, they always say hello to me and are friendly. I've had a couple of chats with the manager, which was really good for me, and he gave me some good advice. He has been really welcoming towards me and very polite."
4. Is it true that when you first arrived at Liverpool, Steven Gerrard said, 'Welcome to the European Champions'? "Yes, he did. A couple of the other players like Jerzy Dudek did it as well and they really helped me to settle and calmed my nerves."
5. Has it sunk in yet that you've swapped Lincoln City to join the European Champions? "Not yet, it hasn't. I still sometimes have to pinch myself when I wake up. I go into Melwood for breakfast and there's Stevie G and Jamie Carragher there!"
6. You made your first team debut for Lincoln last season as a 16-year-old against Bristol Rovers. What was that experience like? "It was good but it went really quick as I only came on at the end of the match for three minutes. I enjoyed the experience. It was good being part of the first team squad and I got a cheer when I came on which was good."
7. Everyone at Lincoln must be really proud of you? "They are and I still speak to them quite often. They all said well done and I've got them to thank for this chance with Liverpool as they brought me up as a player. I try to go back and see them when I can just to catch up."
8. Is it true you've got a footballing family as your sister plays for Lincoln Ladies? "Yes, she's a goalkeeper and she plays for the England Under-19 team too. She's doing well and I'm proud of her."
9. Was it an easy decision to make when you heard Liverpool wanted to sign you?"I never had any second thoughts. It was always Liverpool who wanted to sign me and I wanted to play for Liverpool. I think Paco Herrera spotted me and then Frank McParland got on the phone to my agent who told me and I was delighted. They asked me to come down for a trial and it went well."
10. Your family must be really proud of you playing for Liverpool? "Yes, they are. I don't get to see them much now I'm with Liverpool but they are really happy for me. They went to the West Bromwich Albion Reserve game and they try and get to the games to see me."
11. You've been a regular in the Reserve team this season playing in the holding midfield role just in front of the back four. How much have you enjoyed your new position? "It's good at times as there's a lot more freedom on the ball and I can get forward more. Sometimes though I get caught out more as I'm still receiving the ball as a centre back when I should be turning and seeing what's behind and in front of me. I'm still learning and I'm going to keep working hard and try and improve."
12. Paco Herrera has said your position is centre-back but is playing you in midfield to give you more experience. Do you see your long term position as centre-half? "I do, yes. At this moment in time, I'm playing in central midfield to improve my touch and improve going forward with the ball. Hopefully with these areas of my game improved, I can become a better ball-playing centre-half."
13. Although the Reserves train separately to the first team at Melwood, have you played against the likes of Gerrard, Carragher and Morientes yet? "Yes, it was before a European match when the reserve team had to simulate the formation the European side would play. It was a good experience. I couldn't get anywhere near Gerrard but I tried my best!"
13. Did you have to mark him? "I did, yeah. It was Stevie and Alonso in the second-half and Sissoko and Hamann in the first-half. It's good to train with players of their calibre because you pick up things that you can put into your own game to improve yourself as a player. It's still a bit unreal because a couple of months earlier as a Lincoln City player I was watching Gerrard lift the European Cup in Istanbul."
14. What are your main aims for the rest of the season? "I'm playing central midfield and I want to try and establish that role and improve the attacking part of my game and just keep putting in good performances."
15. What are your long term ambitions with Liverpool? "To get into the first team. It's going to be difficult but I've got three years to work hard. I'm going to keep trying my best, work on my weaknesses and keep improving my strengths and we'll see what happens."
მიმაგრებული სურათი
· 
LIVERPOOL FOOTBALL CLUB, ყველაზე ტიტულოვანი ბრიტანული გუნდის ფან კლუბი
