Shelvey wants long LFC stay
Jonjo Shelvey has declared his desire to remain at Liverpool for 'a very long time' and pledged to do everything he can to succeed for both club and country.
Full of confidence and no small amount of ability, the 20-year-old has already amassed 42 appearances for the Reds and become an increasingly important member of the squad with some assured performances from midfield.
Now an integral figure for England U21s too, Shelvey has the world at his feet. But he has no intention of resting on his laurels. "I'm 20 years of age, I want to start nailing down a place in the team," the No.33 told Liverpoolfc.com.
"Obviously I'm still young, but I want to show that I can do that and hopefully get the chance to do it."
Young he may be, but Shelvey has settled into life at Anfield with ease, making himself at home alongside the likes of Steven Gerrard and Lucas Leiva since arriving at the club in 2010.
Attempting to explain his expressive demeanour, he said: "Ever since I was a little boy, my dad has told me to just be myself and be fearless.
"Go out there and express yourself, who cares what people think about you. You go out there and play your game - if it's not good enough, it's not good enough, if it is good enough, it is good enough. Probably my dad I'd put that down to."
An attacking midfielder at heart, Shelvey has occasionally been asked to curb his forward-thinking instincts for the good of the team. Long-term, though, the Londoner hopes to move further up the pitch and thereby get among the goals.
He added: "I played there for Charlton and did well there, and I've played there a few times for Liverpool and always performed okay there.
"With my attacking ability, I think that's better for me. But obviously there are a few players at the club that are a bigger name than me and can probably do a better job than me. We'll have to just wait and see.
"We all need to start racking in with the goals. The chances that we have, we need to be more clinical in front of goal. I scored for England in the week and I feel that I can take that into Liverpool's first team."
After watching Reds teammate Raheem Sterling, who Shelvey described as a 'very level-headed boy', earn a call-up to the senior national squad, the midfielder could be forgiven for casting envious glances. But he is actually in no hurry.
"I just want to keep doing what I'm doing at club level and hopefully it will get me into the senior team in time," continued Shelvey. "I'm in no rush, I'm still only 20 years of age so I want to go in there and be ready, and stay in the senior squad.
"I don't just want to go in there and experience it then come back out, I want to go in there and stay there. That's what I'll be looking to do."
Brendan Rodgers has been quick to give young players such as Shelvey and Sterling an opportunity since becoming manager, and the former claimed the fresh impetus of youth adds an extra edge for everyone.
"It's good to have more and more young ones up, it gives us all a bit of confidence," said Shelvey. "You get confidence from playing games and things like that, so the more chances he gives me I'll be confident and, speaking on behalf of the young boys, them."
Indeed the midfielder has been impressed by many of the new boss's methods, describing Rodgers as 'first-class'.
The midfielder explained: "The standard of training has gone up a lot, and I think the way we're playing in matches, people can see it's only a matter of time before the results do start coming.
"The way he wants us to pass the ball suits me down to the ground, and a lot of players at the club. He's a great manager. We saw what he did with Swansea last year, it was magnificent."
Two defeats and a draw from three Barclays Premier League matches was not the start the Reds were hoping for, but Shelvey urged the fans to remain patient.
"We desperately need three points, obviously we're sitting at the bottom end of the league," said Shelvey, with Rodgers' side currently sitting 18th in the Premier League table.
"I think the fans have got to stay patient, the way the gaffer tries to work is not going to happen overnight, it's going to take a bit of time. I do think the wins will start coming if we keep performing the way we do."
However long it does take, Shelvey intends to be around for the fruition, revealing his happiness with life on Merseyside: "I've been here for nearly two-and-a-half years now and I want to stay here for a very long time.
"I love the city and love the people and things like that. I want to stay here and fight for a place. There's nothing better than walking out onto Anfield's turf and playing for Liverpool Football Club."