Danny Ings is away in the Czech Republic at the moment with the England u21 squad but thoughts are very much turning to the season ahead. In joining Liverpool, Ings has taken on the kind of pressure that only comes with leading the line of a club whose ambitions exceed their demonstrated ability.
A move to one of the most widely supported clubs in the world is certainly cause for pressure and Ings is determined not to heap any more pressure on him than needs be. The former Burnley man has chosen to wear number 28 at Anfield next year despite the fact that some of the lower numbers are available and it seems that decision was very much thought out.
I stayed away from the low numbers. You have got to take that pressure off yourself as a young lad coming through.
Plenty of clubs have 'iconic' numbers and, for the most part, it's a load of nonsense. However, according to Ings, such numbers do have some real world effect. Asked about the possible appeal of taking the number 7 shirt that was vacated by Luis Suarez last summer, the 22 year old was saying all the right things.
I wouldn’t want to go to Liverpool and chuck a shirt on my back like that. It is pressure you don’t need. The expectation at clubs like that is huge. Obviously I am going to work my socks off to earn that number one day. For now I will take a high number and work hard.
It's worth noting that the last man to wear 28 at Anfield was Christian Poulsen. Let's hope, for Ings sake, that's not an indication of anything.
