Exclusive: How Steven Gerrard and Jordan Henderson Made this Oxford Midfielder the Player He Is Today

Cameron Brannagan believes rubbing shoulders with the likes of Steven Gerrard and Jordan Henderson in the Liverpool dressing room have helped make him the player he is today.

The Oxford United talisman spent 17 years at Anfield from the age of five before moving to the Kassam.

During his time at Anfield, he saw the club win a host of trophies including their famous Miracle in Istanbul Champions League triumph in 2005.

“There were quite a few guys who I looked up to and helped me during my time there,” Brannagan told SportsBoom.com. 

“When I went up it was the likes of Gerrard, Carragher and Coutinho, Lucas [Leiva]. They were the senior pros there and if you needed anything they were fantastic. You could ask them anything and they would always help.”

“As time went on and I got a bit older it was the likes of Lallana and Milner. Henderson was fantastic.”

“They set the standard and if you weren’t at that standard or competing to be the best and wanting to win everything then they would let you know.”

“For me, that’s the way it should be. You should want to win everything you do. I’ve always been that way, I hate losing in anything that I do.” 

“It just helped you as a youngster. It is quite daunting when you go into a dressing room and you have superstars there, but they were fantastic in making you feel comfortable.”

GIVING BACK

It has turned full circle for Brannagan, who has been one of the influential leaders in the Oxford dressing room in recent years. 

And he added: “There were so many during my time at Liverpool that would help you out. If they thought anything they would come and tell you.”

“I try and use that nowadays now I’m a bit of an older pro now to help any young players who have a long journey ahead of them.”

“The lads will tell you that themselves, I hate losing. I think a lot of that drive comes from within and wanting to be successful.”

“Winning’s a habit, losing’s a habit in my eyes. You train everyday to win and if you don’t you’ll be a loser, that’s a fact.”

HUNGRY FOR MORE

Brannagan made his long-awaited Liverpool debut in the Europa League at Bordeaux as a teenager and finished the 2015/16 season by playing the final three Premier League games of the campaign.

Reflecting on his brief taste of Premier League football, Brannagan said: “When I look back, I wanted more of it if I’m honest. I wanted to play first team football every week.”

“At the time, Liverpool wasn’t going to be my pathway to play professional football every week.” 

“So when that opportunity came to jump ship, I was only a young kid so I had to take that opportunity to show I was more than good enough to play professional football.”

“Lucky enough I made that decision to go to Oxford and I’ve loved every minute of it. I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

“Coming on for my Premier League debut was a special moment with all my family there.”

“It was something I had worked towards from five years old as crazy as that sounds after going through the ranks there.”