Shelvey: The first interview
19th Jul 2010 - Latest News
Jonjo Shelvey today spoke of his determination to make an instant impact at Anfield as he prepares for his first season in the top flight of English football.
The 18-year-old England youth international signed for the Reds at the back end of last season and is now away with the squad in Switzerland gearing up for the new season - and his first taste of life as a Premier League player.
Regarded by many as one of the brightest young talents in English football - and described by his former academy manager as a player in the Steven Gerrard mould - the attacking midfielder arrived on Merseyside with a blossoming reputation, and he insists he won't be wasting any time in attempting to prove his worth at Anfield.
In his first interview as a Liverpool player from the Reds' training base in Bad Ragaz, Shelvey said: "Being at Liverpool is what every kid dreams of. When I was in school and in the playground I used to pretend to be players like Steven Gerrard, so it's unreal to think I'll be training with these players day in and day out.
"At Charlton training was just shooting and five-a-sides and I was getting home at 1pm. At Liverpool we're not getting home till 2pm or 3pm and that's what I needed. I needed to be somewhere where I could learn about the game because it got to the point where I wasn't learning at Charlton. I'm glad to be around the best people you could possibly be around.
"I'm really excited and can't wait for the season to start now. I want to get at least 20 games under my belt this season so I can start getting myself into it. I am confident, you have to be. When you are 18 years of age and you are getting thrown into games at Anfield then you can't have any fear. You have to go and do what you do."
Having represented England at both U16 and U17 levels, Shelvey became Charlton's youngest ever player before going on to net eight goals in 49 appearances for the London club.
A softly-spoken but fiercely determined youngster, Shelvey is clearly confident of succeeding on the pitch at Anfield - but how has he coped with crossing the north-south divide?
"Obviously it's a different lifestyle compared to being at Charlton," he said. "The training is harder, everyone is a top quality professional, so it's totally different. It's different but I'm enjoying it. It's hard but I'm coping with it and it's good to be here.
"I thought I would find it a lot harder but I've had a lot of help from the club. I have my mum and dad coming up which makes it a lot easier. My dad comes up on a Monday and Tuesday and then I'll take him to Lime Street station on a Wednesday morning before training. My mum then comes up and she'll be there when I get home, which is great because she loves to cook.
"It still hasn't really sunk in now that I could be playing in the Premier League week in and week out. It's unreal."
He may now be dreaming of pulling on the red shirt, but it was only four years ago when the self-confessed West Ham fan was left distraught at the hands of Liverpool as Gerrard snatched FA Cup glory away from the Hammers with a last-gasp equaliser in Cardiff.
"I was away in Italy with Charlton at the time of that game and we watched it in a pub. There were a few Liverpool fans in there and they were rubbing it in all day," he recalls.
"I may be a West Ham fan but when you watch Liverpool on the television and hear the crowd singing it gives you goose-pimples. It will be amazing to play there. I can't wait. I'll probably faint before I walk out."
And when Shelvey does realise his dream and make his debut in a Liverpool shirt, what can the fans expect?
"I'm an all-action player," he says. "I can defend, although I'd rather be bombing on to score goals and create things. I used to play in the hole behind the striker at Charlton but I prefer to play in central midfield to dictate the play.
"From watching the Premier League on the television you seem to get a lot more time and space on the ball compared to League One and that will suit me.
"I just can't wait to show the fans what I can do."
19th Jul 2010 - Latest News
Jonjo Shelvey today spoke of his determination to make an instant impact at Anfield as he prepares for his first season in the top flight of English football.
The 18-year-old England youth international signed for the Reds at the back end of last season and is now away with the squad in Switzerland gearing up for the new season - and his first taste of life as a Premier League player.
Regarded by many as one of the brightest young talents in English football - and described by his former academy manager as a player in the Steven Gerrard mould - the attacking midfielder arrived on Merseyside with a blossoming reputation, and he insists he won't be wasting any time in attempting to prove his worth at Anfield.
In his first interview as a Liverpool player from the Reds' training base in Bad Ragaz, Shelvey said: "Being at Liverpool is what every kid dreams of. When I was in school and in the playground I used to pretend to be players like Steven Gerrard, so it's unreal to think I'll be training with these players day in and day out.
"At Charlton training was just shooting and five-a-sides and I was getting home at 1pm. At Liverpool we're not getting home till 2pm or 3pm and that's what I needed. I needed to be somewhere where I could learn about the game because it got to the point where I wasn't learning at Charlton. I'm glad to be around the best people you could possibly be around.
"I'm really excited and can't wait for the season to start now. I want to get at least 20 games under my belt this season so I can start getting myself into it. I am confident, you have to be. When you are 18 years of age and you are getting thrown into games at Anfield then you can't have any fear. You have to go and do what you do."
Having represented England at both U16 and U17 levels, Shelvey became Charlton's youngest ever player before going on to net eight goals in 49 appearances for the London club.
A softly-spoken but fiercely determined youngster, Shelvey is clearly confident of succeeding on the pitch at Anfield - but how has he coped with crossing the north-south divide?
"Obviously it's a different lifestyle compared to being at Charlton," he said. "The training is harder, everyone is a top quality professional, so it's totally different. It's different but I'm enjoying it. It's hard but I'm coping with it and it's good to be here.
"I thought I would find it a lot harder but I've had a lot of help from the club. I have my mum and dad coming up which makes it a lot easier. My dad comes up on a Monday and Tuesday and then I'll take him to Lime Street station on a Wednesday morning before training. My mum then comes up and she'll be there when I get home, which is great because she loves to cook.
"It still hasn't really sunk in now that I could be playing in the Premier League week in and week out. It's unreal."
He may now be dreaming of pulling on the red shirt, but it was only four years ago when the self-confessed West Ham fan was left distraught at the hands of Liverpool as Gerrard snatched FA Cup glory away from the Hammers with a last-gasp equaliser in Cardiff.
"I was away in Italy with Charlton at the time of that game and we watched it in a pub. There were a few Liverpool fans in there and they were rubbing it in all day," he recalls.
"I may be a West Ham fan but when you watch Liverpool on the television and hear the crowd singing it gives you goose-pimples. It will be amazing to play there. I can't wait. I'll probably faint before I walk out."
And when Shelvey does realise his dream and make his debut in a Liverpool shirt, what can the fans expect?
"I'm an all-action player," he says. "I can defend, although I'd rather be bombing on to score goals and create things. I used to play in the hole behind the striker at Charlton but I prefer to play in central midfield to dictate the play.
"From watching the Premier League on the television you seem to get a lot more time and space on the ball compared to League One and that will suit me.
"I just can't wait to show the fans what I can do."
