Lloyd Jones is relishing the prospect of making his Football League debut against Oxford United on Saturday.
The Liverpool teenager arrived at Cheltenham Town on Thursday for an initial month’s loan from Premier League Liverpool.
England Under-20 international Jones is expected to partner Troy Brown at centre-half at the Kassam Stadium.
“As soon as I found out Cheltenham were interested I wanted to come here straight away and I am looking forward to my League debut at Oxford,” Jones said.
“It will be a different test and I know Under-21 football will be a lot different to League Two, but hopefully I can do well on Saturday.”
Jones, who joined Liverpool at 15, arrived at Cheltenham’s Seasons training ground having played there many times for Plymouth Argyle’s youth teams.
“I think I have probably played at the training ground about 10 times for Plymouth,” he said.
“I know Zack (Kotwica) from playing against him for Plymouth school boys against Gloucester and he always gave me a tough test.
“I messaged him when I was coming down and it’s been good to see him.”
Joining Jones at Cheltenham are his Reds team mates Jack Dunn and Kevin Stewart, who also go straight into the squad to face Oxford.
“I couldn’t have asked for two better lads to come here with me because they are both winners and will do well here,” Jones said.
“We came in, introduced ourselves and now it’s about working hard and looking forward to the challenge.”
Jones is a defender who likes to play from the back, but he is also ready for the physical challenge he knows he will face in League Two.
“I am a defender and I want to be a defender so I know I will have to get used to it and rise to the challenge,” he said.
“I’d say my strengths are coming out with the ball, heading it and having a winning mentality.”