Jordan on Stevie and Kop lure

Our No.14 spoke candidly about comparisons with Steven Gerrard, an Anfield debut beckoning against Valencia and what he hopes to achieve in L4.

When the call from Liverpool came how difficult a decision was it to leave Sunderland?

I spoke with the manager and the chairman and they agreed a deal and said I could go if I wanted to. It was a massive opportunity for me to go to Liverpool because they're a massive club.

A number of clubs were rumoured to be interested in you but how excited were you when you heard it was Liverpool who wanted to sign you?

Liverpool is a huge club and one that a lot of people want to play for, so it's a great honour to be here. I just need to keep doing what I've been doing for Sunderland, keep working hard and hopefully I can have a good experience here.

You are still a young man but you've got a couple of seasons of Premier League football behind you already, so is it daunting to sign for a club such as Liverpool?

No, I think it's more exciting to sign for a club like Liverpool. Obviously they have seen something in me to bring me here and you've just got to keep working hard to repay their faith. I'm sure if I work hard I can do that.

Talking about your development as a player, you had a loan spell at Coventry. In many ways you sampled the real world of football during your spell there didn't you...

Coventry was a big part of my career and I had a great time there. The manager Chris Coleman, was brilliant and Steve Kean was there at the time too who was also great with me. The lads were brilliant as well, so it was a great experience. My spell at Coventry helped me a lot.

Football has this ability to throw up a few unique moments and your first game for Liverpool could well be against Sunderland - how will you be feeling if the manager tells you he is starting you in the game?

If I play I've got to treat it as a normal game. It will be a massive occasion and I've just got to play my normal game. I had a great time at Sunderland and have supported them my whole life. I've got a lot of respect for the manager there, the staff and player. It was a hard decision at the time to leave but it was a massive opportunity to come to a massive club like Liverpool and progress as a player.

There is something of a North-East connection at Anfield now with Stewart Downing and Andy Carroll at the club, will that help you settle in do you think?

I think so. I've known Andy for quite a while now. I used to play against him when I was younger and Stewart was at Sunderland on a loan spell. We'll get to know each other a little better being here but to be fair all the lads have been brilliant. We just need to keep working hard in training and hopefully come the first day of the season well be ready to go.

Click on the play button below to watch our new boys meet the press at Melwood

Is it fair to say that playing for Liverpool alongside the likes of Steven Gerrard will develop you as a footballer?

Steven's a great player and has been for many years at this club, so obviously a lot of us will learn from him and there's a lot of other good players here which I'm sure I'll learn off. It's great to be around them, learning everyday and the manager and coaching staff will help us along the way as well.

Your focus is on Liverpool but do you also hope this move will mean there's more international football to follow?

Of course it's a massive honour to play for your country and I've had a taste of it, so it makes you want it that bit more. I've just got to concentrate on playing for Liverpool first and hopefully I'll get the call up. I've got to keep doing what I've been doing last season, keep my head down, keep working hard and hopefully that opportunity will come again.

Steven Gerrard's labelled you as possibly his long term successor - how do you feel about that?

Steven's a big player and he has been for many years because he's one of the best in the world, but I just want to be myself. I don't want to follow in anyone's footsteps. I'll learn from Steven massively because he's a great player. There's a lot of other great players here that I'll learn from but I don't think I'm following in anyone's footsteps, especially Steven's. I've got to concentrate on what I want to do and achieve here, and hopefully that can happen.

You played for England U21s during the summer - how much did you enjoy the experience?

It was mixed emotions for me. It was disappointing the way we went out but it was a great experience for me and the rest of the lads. We had a great group and some great players. It was disappointing to go out, but I suppose it was just one of those things that you've just got to learn from.

How are you feeling after playing for England U21s during the summer?

I feel fine. I had a few weeks off after the tournament and I feel good. I just need to keep working hard on my fitness over the next couple of weeks and hopefully I'll be on top form come the start of the season.

Liverpool play Valencia on Saturday, are you looking forward to stepping out on the Anfield turf for the first time in a red shirt?

It will be a big moment to make my debut at Anfield and I'm looking forward to it. Hopefully I'll play a part in the game. It will be a tough test against Valencia. I think we can learn a lot before the game against Sunderland, so it'll be tough but I'm looking forward to it.