Shelvey ´needed to get away´ from Liverpool

Jonjo Shelvey feels that he was not given a “fair crack of the whip” at Liverpool and he needed to leave to get first-team football.

The 21-year-old made 32 appearances in all competitions under Brendan Rodgers last season, but only 18 of those were starts and the lure of regular football at Swansea was too much to resist.

Michael Laudrup signed the midfielder in July, and Shelvey is already loving life in South Wales.

“I have enjoyed every minute of being here so far, and my missus is loving it as well,” he said.

“It is a big, big thing to leave, to come away from one of the biggest clubs in football, but I felt that I needed to come and play.

“I didn’t want to sit behind people. I felt that I wasn’t getting a fair crack of the whip at Liverpool but that’s football. I can’t fault any of the players there because they were first class.

“I felt my days had come to an end, I needed to get away whether it was on loan or permanent, but I needed to leave and try to get some football.

“If I play the majority of the games I feel my performances will start to get better. The hardest thing for a young professional footballer is consistency and that is what I have to try and find and take myself to that next level.”

Shelvey made his Swansea debut in their UEFA Europa League clash with Malmo on Thursday, playing in a more withdrawn role in the centre of midfield.