JONJO SHELVEY has set his sights on becoming a regular in the Liverpool FC first team after impressing in LFC's 2-0 win over Aston Villa.

Shelvey was handed his first top-flight start by manager Kenny Dalglish at Villa on Sunday and played a part in the build-up to the first goal from Craig Bellamy in Liverpool FC’s win.

The 19-year-old was recently recalled from a successful loan spell at npower Championship side Blackpool where he netted six goals in 10 outings.

And Shelvey believes he has reaped the benefits of his time with the Tangerines and is not content to make up the numbers on his return to Anfield.

“It was good to get the shout to play and hopefully I repaid the gaffer with the performance and I hope I’m worthy of starting the next game and hopefully kick on from here,” he said.

“He has put a lot of trust in me, and I thank him for that, but I feel I’ve deserved the chance to start a Premier League game.

“I have done now and feel I took the chance.

“Kenny said I did well so hopefully I can start on Wednesday (against Wigan Athletic).

“Obviously it is a tough job with the amount of internationals that are there.

“I’ve just got to take it day by day and train at my best and hopefully that will be good enough.”

Speaking about his loan spell at Blackpool, Shelvey – who was preferred to Andy Carroll, Dirk Kuyt and Maxi Rodriguez at the weekend – added: “I think I’ve got a lot more confidence in myself with the way I’ve played, but I owe a lot to Blackpool in that sense.

“I asked Kenny if I could go away and get a few games and match fitness. He came up and watched a few games at Blackpool and I think in the ones he watched I didn’t perform very well!

“That’s the way it goes, but I did enjoy my time there and it’s given me the confidence to come back to Liverpool and fight back for a place.

“There is nothing worse than training all week and not playing on a Saturday or a Sunday. I didn’t want to come back and just play reserve football.

“I’m nearly 20, I want to play football and there’s nothing better than to do it for Liverpool.”