I don’t have anything to prove, says Mignolet

Simon Mignolet has claimed he had a “positive discussion” with Brendan Rodgers when he discovered he was being dropped and says he has nothing to prove on his return to the Liverpool team.

Mignolet was dropped for the first time in his Anfield career for the 3-0 defeat to Manchester United and spent three games out of the side before he came on as a substitute for Brad Jones in the 1-0 win over Burnley on Boxing Day.

And unless Jones recovers from a thigh injury, Mignolet will come back into the starting 11 for Monday’s home match against Swansea.

Mignolet said: “I don’t have to prove anything. The only thing I can do is work hard and do my best and show what I am capable of on the pitch.”

The former Sunderland goalkeeper found out he was being omitted in a meeting with Rodgers in the manager’s office before the trip to Old Trafford.

“We spoke together and cleared up a few things and I think that was a positive discussion,” he added. “I will not discuss what we spoke about but it was an honest meeting, why not? It is always a positive thing.

“Sometimes you have to make something positive from a negative thing like going out of the team, which I’ve tried to do.

“You can reflect on your game and look at certain things where maybe, with the busy period we’ve had, you wouldn’t have had the chance, and that is what I have done. You learn a lot and you can move on and hopefully we can build on that.”

Mignolet said he has used the time to try and improve and revealed that his rival Jones had been of assistance.

He said: “It is always difficult at first but you have time to reflect on it. I am a 26-year-old goalkeeper and I know what I have to work on. Things in your game can still improve.

“There is always a reason and discussion why and I am a guy who always tries to speak and be positive and work hard on my game and that is what I have done in this period with the goalie coach and Jonesy.”

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