Spearing hungry to increase playing time

JAY SPEARING helped Liverpool progress into the fourth round of the Carling Cup and then admitted: "I'm hungry for more."

The 20-year-old from Wirral was handed his full debut in the Reds' hard-fought 1-0 victory over Leeds at Elland Road last night.
 
The Academy graduate, who has been at the club for over a decade, made two substitute appearances in the Champions League last season but he relished the chance to show what he can do from the start. 
 
"It was a really special night for me," he said.
 
"With the work we did in training on Monday it looked like I was going to play but I didn't know for definite until we got to the hotel today. 
 
"To play at a ground like this was great and the atmosphere was unbelievable throughout the 90 minutes.
 
"When I went out to warm up it was more excitement than nerves and at the end of it I feel like I've done alright.
 
"I know I've got to take any chance I get and hopefully I've proved to myself, the fans and the boss that I can play in the first team.
 
"This day has been a long time coming and I've had to graft hard for it.
 
"But I always thought it would come one day and I want this to be the first of many."
 
Spearing knows Liverpool's progress in the Carling Cup is crucial to his hopes of getting more opportunities to shine this season.
 
Leeds made life tough for the Reds but David Ngog's clinical strike midway through the second half settled it.
 
"We got the result we needed and it was a really tough game," he said.
 
"It was a real team performance tonight and we battled for it.
 
"David took his goal well. He turned brilliantly and slotted it past the keeper.
 
"That's what he's there for and he's a real goal poacher.
 
"We needed to get through so those of us who are on the fringes can get more games
 
"We started off with me as one of the three in the middle but we were a bit too tight in there so the boss told me to push forward a bit more and get into the hole.
 
"I'm working hard to show the manager what I'm capable of. Hopefully he's seen enough tonight and now I'll be trying to play a bigger role."