Callum Lang: Everton-mad player takes inspiration from Liverpool hero Trent Alexander-Arnold

Callum Lang tussles with Dejan Lovren during Shrewsbury Town’s FA Cup fourth-round tie with Liverpool in January

Callum Lang is an Everton-mad player taking inspiration from a Liverpool title-winning hero.

The 21-year-old striker hopes joining Motherwell on loan for this season will help move his career closer to old pal, Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Lang started out in the Liverpool youth system, and was a team-mate of the England full-back.

He moved on to Wigan Athletic, and his spell at Fir Park will be the fourth time he has been sent out on loan.

Last season was spent with Shrewsbury Town, and that led to him meeting up with Alexander-Arnold.

The Shrews drew 2-2 at home against Liverpool in the FA Cup.

Former Hibs’ striker Jason Cummings came off the bench to replace Lang, and scored two late goals.

Lang said: “Trent has had a good opportunity, and he’s taken it with both hands.

“He plays for a manager who trusts him, and it has worked well for him.

“He has gone on to do so much in his career. He deserves it all.

“To watch him do all that at 21, the same age as me, gives you motivation.

“I came up against him last year, and he sorted me out with his shirt after the game.

“He’s a good lad. You wouldn’t think he’s gone on to do all he has because he’s so down-to-earth.

“You want to get to the Premier League yourself. That’s every young lad’s aim in England.

“To come to the Scottish Premiership, it’s a much bigger stage than League One and Two was for me.

“It’s a great opportunity and I want to do the same – take this chance and push on.

“Jason Cummings told me about the Old Firm, and I enjoyed my time with him at Shrewsbury

“I was out injured for most of the season and lads like him cheer you up.”

Lang and Alexander-Arnold were at different ends of the pitch as schoolboy players. He went on: “Trent was playing as a striker at the time I was there, and I was a defender.

“So we have kind of swapped positions, which is weird.

“Growing up, I was a central midfielder. But then a space came up at right-back.

“I said I’d give it a go as I’ll play anywhere, but it’s probably the reason I’m not there now!

“I wasn’t the greatest defender and my dad told them: ‘Keep him away from your own goal’.

“I have worked on my defensive game over the years and I am a hard worker.

“But I like to do my stuff at the other end, higher up the pitch. It’s a bit more exciting up there.”

Lang will get his first look at Scottish football when Motherwell go to Ross County tomorrow night.

He admits speculation linking him with Everton a couple of years ago didn’t help his progress.

He said: “After being on loan at Morecambe, I was sitting at home watching television, and Everton interest came up on Sky News. It was a bit unreal.

“The whole family were going a bit crazy, ringing me every day,asking if I was going.

“It did cause a bit of a problem with Wigan at the time. I didn’t want to rush into signing a contract when all that was going on.

“I thought there was a chance of it happening. But nothing came of it and I signed back on at Wigan.

“I think when I took a while to sign a contract – which was understandable because it’s the club I’ve supported all my life – it didn’t help me at Wigan.

“I’ll keep pushing on, however, and maybe one day it can happen.

“For now, I just want to play at as high a level as I can and keep on improving.

“There’s a manager at Motherwell that wants to improve me. I’m excited to work with him.”