Shelvey sets Liverpool target
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Your support makes all the difference.Jonjo Shelvey has set himself a target of making at least 20 appearances for Liverpool next season - although he admits the prospect of playing for the Reds in the Barclays Premier League still has not fully sunk in.
Shelvey, who completed his move to Anfield from Charlton at the end of last season, has been training with his new team-mates in Switzerland and the 18-year-old is confident he can make a swift impact for the Merseysiders.
"Being at Liverpool is what every kid dreams of," Shelvey told www.liverpoolfc.tv.
"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.
"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."
Shelvey was Charlton's youngest ever player when he made his debut aged 16 years and 59 days in April 2008 and the England youth international is relishing the challenge of adapting to life at Liverpool.
"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.
"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."
Having made his name at Charlton as a goalscoring midfielder, Shelvey is hoping to be in the thick of things at his new club.
"I'm an all-action player," Shelvey said.
"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."
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