LIKE most Jamaicans of his generation, Ricardo Gardner spent every Sunday afternoon glued to the television to see his hero John Barnes flying down the wing for Liverpool.

The Reds developed a legion of supporters on the Caribbean island thanks to the Anfield legend, who is now part of the national coaching set-up.

And although Barnes represented England, the country he moved to as a 14-year-old, his Jamaican roots inspired a wave of new footballers.

And one of them is out to make sure the current crop of Kop idols don’t get their way at the Reebok Stadium this weekend.

“Back in the day, they would show every Liverpool game on a Sunday because of John Barnes,” Gardner said. “Everyone was proud of what he achieved at Anfield.

“I grew up watching him on the television and there were a lot of Liverpool supporters because he played there.

“Now there are a few Jamaican players in the Premier League so the feeling is a bit different. But he is still a football legend.”

Barnes took over from Rene Simoes as national manager at the start of this month, and as captain, Gardner will get a chance to work up close with his hero.

But first comes the considerable task of stopping a Liverpool side that finally look capable of challenging for the title after an 18-year barren spell.

“I think they are that good,” Gardner said. “They have got some amazing results this season.

“They went to Chelsea and stopped the home record they had been carrying for ages and beat Manchester United at home as well. If we are going to beat them, we’ll need commitment from every single player.

“We’ll need to defend just as well as we did against Hull. Liverpool have been brilliant since the start of the season so it will need effort and 110 per cent from each player.”

The defensive resolve shown by Wanderers at the KC Stadium is likely to be tested again as Rafa Benitez restores some of the big guns he rested in the midweek Carling Cup defeat against Spurs.

Their only defeats of the season so far have come at White Hart Lane, and although they are riding high in the league, Gardner thinks his own side’s improving self belief can play its part.

“They will be full of confidence but so are we,” he said. “As players, we have to go there and stop them doing what they do best.

“You know what football is like. You need to get amongst them and make sure they are not enjoying the game. We have to get in their faces and not give them any time to play.

“It will be a tough game but I know from playing at Bolton for so long that anything is possible when we are on our game.”