Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Richard Garnett

Marc Albrighton names Liverpool player he regards as 'source of inspiration'

Liverpool's James Milner is considered to be a 'source of inspiration' by Leicester City favourite Marc Albrighton.

The Foxes midfielder shared a dressing room with James Milner when the two played together for Aston Villa before the latter departed for Manchester City in August 2010.

Albrighton would eventually move to the King Power Stadium on a free transfer four years later and was part of the team that sent shockwaves through English football by winning the Premier League title against the odds in the 2015/16 season.

READ MORE: Liverpool are overcoming £500m rival gap as Manchester United 'lose control'

READ MORE: Mohamed Salah agent gives game away with 'reaction' to comments from Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp

He is now well on his way to making 300 appearances for the Foxes - now under the management of former Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers - but his early experience with Milner helped set the tone for how he has approached his career in football.

Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: "I am not one for the things surrounding football. He (Milner) was the first player I looked at and thought, 'Wow, he is committed. He really works hard.'

"He was staying until god knows what time in the gym doing extras. He was the first in every morning just taking care of himself, really putting everything into it.

"It was not just turn up, train and go home. James Milner was the first person I had really seen do that."

Despite Milner leaving such a lasting impression on Albrighton, the pair would only play together for Villa on six occasions.

After five successful seasons at Manchester City, Milner signed for Liverpool on a free transfer in the summer of 2015.

Regarded as one of Liverpool greatest ever free signings, the 36-year-old Yorkshireman has gone on to make 279 appearances for The Reds, winning the Premier League and Champions League in the process.

The only major trophy to have so far evaded Milner at Anfield is the FA Cup - a prize that Albrighton won with Leicester at Wembley last season.

However Milner did win the FA Cup with Manchester City at the conclusion of the 2010/11 season.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.