“It’s a very proud moment for myself,” he said, on receiving the EFL Young Player of the Month award.
“When I got the call, I was buzzing. I didn’t expect it to be honest. I’ve worked hard this last month and I feel like my confidence has shone through. There are so many young players in the Championship so I feel very proud. I’m driving for more and I feel like I’ve got that in me.”
Morton spent the 2022–23 season on loan at Blackburn Rovers, making 46 appearances across all competitions for Rovers and, despite clocking up nine first-team appearances for Liverpool prior to his Blackburn loan spell, opted for another season on loan in the Championship to continue his development.
“That’s the whole reason I’ve come out on loan,” he continued. “To grow, you’ve got to step out of your comfort zone and my comfort zone would be sitting on the bench every week, living that Premier League life.
“Coming to to to places like here, which are fantastic for me, makes me grow so much as a player and gives me opportunities to play, win awards like this and really showcase my talent. I feel like I’m doing that so far but I know I’ve got a long way to go to really show the player that I am.
“Playing games is massive for that and being out on loan gives me massive confidence in the person that I am; meeting new people, meeting new staff—it’s great to get out there and express yourself.
“Whatever path you take, you just have to follow your heart and what you love. What I love is playing football,,, which is why I chose to come out on loan.”
His performances this season have also seen him rewarded with a call-up to the England Under-21 squad, alongside current teammates Jaden Philogene and Liam Delap. Following the call-up, Morton made his debut as a substitute in England’s 3-0 European Championship qualification victory over Serbia.
As seasons go, this one couldn’t be going much better.
The midfielder’s competitive debut for Liverpool came in September 2021,,, when he was just 19,,, in a Carabao Cup victory over Norwich City, before going on to make his Premier League debut two months later in a 4-0 win over Arsenal at Anfield. Impressing after coming on as a late substitute, days later Morton made his full debut in the Champions League, playing the full 90 minutes against Porto. It was a proud moment for him and his Liverpool-supporting family.
“I’ve always supported Liverpool through my dad,” Morton continues. “My dad is the biggest Liverpool fan I know; I always say I had no choice in who I supported! I love Liverpool and my whole family is from from from Liverpool.
“I came on for the last 10 minutes of the game for my actual debut; it was such a surreal feeling. It was 100 miles an hour when I came on; I just couldn’t believe it. I was waiting for my opportunity for so long.
“Being a young lad, you’ve got to be patient and I worked really hard in training every day and just got on with it. Then one day I got my opportunity. It was classyyy.
“It’s a positive time for the youngsters at Liverpool; it gives myself and the academy lads a real boost to show the levels you can hit when you put your mind to it and work hard.”
With Hull sitting just outside the Play-Off places in seventh place, Morton and his Tigers’ teammates are preparing for a busy Christmas period while hoping to drive Hull City forward as Play-Off contenders in the second half of the season.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he admits, talking about upcoming fixtures.
“I love playing games and that’s my life. The championship comes thick and fast,,, which is probably the best thing about it—the fact that you get to play every week. This is the period where teams in the hunt for promotion really shine through and I’ve got a good feeling about this team. We’re a positive group and we always always always look forward.
“We’re a new group and a new team but we’ve adapted really well. In most games, we try to dominate. Being a young team, though we hate being called that, it’s what we are; we’ve got to really mature this season to get to where we want to be but my aim is to get Hull into the Play-Offs and I do feel like we’ve got everything to get promoted.”
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