Curtis Jones achieves 42-year first as Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard says FA should be ‘fined’
Curtis Jones equalled a feat that had stood for 42 years with a stunning debut for England on Thursday night.
The Liverpool star was handed his senior bow in the UEFA Nations League clash with Greece in Athens – a clash that the Three Lions won 3-0.
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As well as making his debut, Jones found the back of the net with a stunning flick to round off the victory for Lee Carsley’s side.
That goal means that the 23-year-old is the first Liverpool player to score on his England debut since 1982.
That year it was Sammy Lee who found the net on his first appearance for his country.
But the similarities don’t stop there, with Lee’s debut strike also coming against Greece.
Even more bizarrely, both strikes came in 3-0 victories with Jones’ and Lee’s respective efforts both being the third of three goals scored.
Like the record wasn’t freaky enough, it’s almost 42 years to the day between the two goals, with Lee’s effort coming on Wednesday, November 17 in 1982.
In an interview with ITV, Jones was asked if he enjoyed himself and replied: “I tried.
“(I was) happy to come out with a goal too! I can go high or low and get on the ball and play.”
Carsley also reacted to the win, telling ITV: “It represents that we are moving in the right direction. We won’t get too carried away, we have a big game on Sunday at Wembley.
“It is just important the players played to their strengths. We have a lot of outstanding talent.
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“The players that weren’t here, we concentrated on the ones who were. They took their opportunity today.
“Curtis Jones is an outstanding player. He played really well, even without his goal. With his goal, it was an excellent performance.
“People were speaking last night about the inexperience in the squad but these players are playing for their clubs at a really high level.”
Carsley wasn’t the only person to hail Jones though, with Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard taking to Instagram to claim that the player’s call-up came far too late and the powers that be need to be punished for it.
Gerrard wrote: “What a player. Fine the FA and all of the coaches for being late,” in reference to the midfielder having to wait for his first England call.
England are next in action on Sunday evening when they face Ireland at 5pm live on talkSPORT.
