Jonjo Shelvey is relishing his first pre-season at Liverpool and is keen to show Reds' fans what he can do.
The 18-year-old England youth international moved to Anfield from Charlton Athletic at the end of last season and is now away in Switzerland preparing for the new Premier League campaign.
He is also enjoying the step-up in intensity in training that being at Anfield involves.
"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," he told his new club's official website.
"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."
While he is finding everything at Liverpool more demanding that it was in south London, Shelvey has his family to provide essential support as he settles in on Merseyside.
"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."
Shelvey also tipped off Reds fans as to what to expect from him in a Liverpool shirt, and admitted that the excitement about potentially making his debut was intense.
"I'm an all-action player," he explained.
"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 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.
"I just can't wait to show the fans what I can do."
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