Liverpool and England Under-21s forward Danny Ings admits he may find it tough to use his summer holiday to relax, such is his desire to impress.
The 22-year-old, who has agreed a move to Merseyside from Burnley at the end of his contract on July 1, is currently away with England at the Under-21 European Championship and Liverpool are planning to give him a three-week break following its culmination.
The forward is well aware of the need for a break, but knows he still has a lot to prove before arriving at Anfield.
"I will be raring to go so I will probably only have two and join up with them on tour because I don't want to be playing catch-up," Ings said.
"I would prefer to be around the squad and ready to go for the start of the season."
There is renewed hope that England could yet make it all the way to the Prague finale following a spirited, if somewhat fortuitous, win against Sweden.
The dry Olomouc pitch made it tough for the Young Lions to break down the Scandinavians, but substitute Jesse Lingard's strike five minutes from the end was enough to secure a 1-0 win.
The Liverpool new boy's performance as a half-time replacement only strengthens his chances of starting Wednesday's crunch tie with Italy, but the forward is not getting worked up by his bench role.
"You've got to put the frustration to one side," Ings said. "You have got to respect who the manager picks and his team and be ready when called upon. I thought I did that (against Sweden).
"I just made sure that I was ready for when he was ready to put me on and hopefully I made a difference."
Ings is looking forward to the new challenge that awaits at Anfield, where he will wear the number 28 jersey next season.
He wore 10 at Burnley last term but that number is occupied by the impressive Philippe Coutinho - not that the forward believes he would deserve it yet anyway.
Ings believes such numbers at clubs like Liverpool are a reward for proven players, which is why he would never dream of taking the number eight vacated by Steven Gerrard or the available seven worn by the likes of Kevin Keegan, Kenny Dalglish and Luis Suarez.
"I stayed away from the low numbers," Ings said. "You have got to take that pressure off yourself as a young lad coming through. That is what I personally think.
"I would make sure I am established before taking any of those numbers. It is such a huge club. That was the thinking behind it.
"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."
Source: PA
