Nigerian-born Liverpool star player, Jordan Ibe, is hoping to emulate the lofty achievements of Captain Steven Gerrard as well as follow his path to greatness.
The Liverpool legend is set to leave Anfield at the end of the season as the club’s third-highest appearance maker of all-time and fifth-highest scorer ever.
Ibeh, who moved to Merseyside 2011 revealed how the former English international has been a role model to upcoming players while lamenting his department from the Reds squad.
“Gerrard’s been a big deal for us. He’s always helped all the other players in the team,” Ibe said.
“He’s helped a lot of the young lads, including me, so it’s going to be a shame to lose him. But I’m happy for him to continue his journey.
“Sometimes, he doesn’t even have to say anything but you just see the way that he conducts himself on and off the pitch; you can just see that he’s a legend for the club. Playing with him, you just want to play to the best of your ability and it keeps you on your toes. He’s a great role model for the club and other players.”
He admits he was worried that he would find playing time hard to come by in the event of a return, but credits the manager for throwing him into first-team action immediately.
“I thought I was going to be at Derby for the rest of the season but my aim was to always come back at one point and it obviously happened and I’ve enjoyed it since,” he continued. I was thinking if I came back I might not play, I’d just be on the bench and watching most games just for experience.
“But everything’s gone well enough and I have to thank the gaffer for that and I’m enjoying it. I slightly doubted it because I was starting games at Derby, but he’s come through and delivered so I’ve been grateful for that,” Ibeh concluded.
