Liverpool FC’s Jonjo Shelvey is learning fast to make the grade at Anfield

Jonjo Shelvey 300JONJO SHELVEY has done a lot of growing up over the past six months.Having made the giant leap from life in League One with Charlton Athletic to Liverpool last summer, it's been a steep learning curve for the England Under-19 international.But it's one the talented midfielder has fully embraced. His application has impressed manager Roy Hodgson and has already earned him eight first team appearances.From relative obscurity the 18-year-old from Romford now finds himself firmly in the spotlight and he's loving every minute of it. 'My mates always say to me 'what's it like to play for Liverpool?',' he said.'It's something that words just can't describe. It's just such an honour to play for a club like this with so much history and such passionate fans.'You pretend to be people like Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Jamie Carragher when you are in the school playground as a kid. To actually be playing alongside them really is a dream come true.'I feel like I've become a better person both on and off the pitch since I've been here. I've had to mature quickly.'You can't be a typical 18-year-old boy going out getting drunk with your mates. You have to be disciplined and while I've been at the club I've certainly matured.'You have got to be responsible on and off the pitch because no matter what someone is always looking at you. You can't afford to switch off from that.'The transfer fee of £1.7million, rising to £3million depending on appearances, was a hefty outlay for a teenager unproven at the highest level.

Source: Liverpool_Echo