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KENNY DALGLISH believes what Jay Spearing has achieved at Liverpool will spur on the club’s youngsters looking to follow in his footsteps over the coming years.

The 22-year-old midfielder’s excellent form was rewarded yesterday when he penned a new contract.

Spearing has risen to the challenge in the absence of skipper Steven Gerrard and formed a blossoming partnership with Lucas Leiva.

The Wirral-born Academy graduate has had to fight hard to make the grade at Anfield but he has belatedly broken through under Dalglish and his manager says the new deal is richly deserved.

“It is great news for us and great for wee Jay,” he said.

“It’s just reward for the performances he’s put in and he thoroughly deserves what he’s got.

“Whenever he’s played he’s been fantastic. Lucas and him have done tremendously well in the centre of midfield. He’s certainly reached a higher level than he has done before and he’s a great asset for us to have.

“If anyone wants to look at him and see a local boy made good then fantastic. Jay is a fantastic example to follow.

“Jay’s probably looked at Carra and Steven and thought the same. Local players are important but their ability is more important. The people I have mentioned there qualify on both counts.

“Youngsters need to have belief in their own ability. If they are good enough they will get a chance. The wee man has proved that - he’s been good enough.”

Spearing only played five times in two seasons under Rafa Benitez as he toiled to make an impression in the shadow of Javier Mascherano, Xabi Alonso and Gerrard.

However, he has already clocked up 17 appearances this season and Monday night’s trip to Fulham will be his seventh successive league start.

Reds director of football Damien Comolli said: “He won his place in the team on merit and has showed in the last games that he can raise his game to what we need.

“It’s not only what he has done in the last four or five games that triggered the new contract.

“We have been talking for quite a while, independently of what he was doing on the field. But that was confirmation that it was the right thing to do.

“His commitment and aggression on the pitch is fantastic and since he has been playing I think he has added some passing quality which we didn’t see before.

“He has started to get forward more and the more he plays the more he improves. We think he will be part of the future of the club which is why we rewarded him with a new contract.

“He was part of the team which won two Youth Cups and he was telling me when he signed his contract that he has been here since he was seven.

“It’s great for the club to have people like him around and it shows others that if you do well at the Academy then you have a chance of getting new contracts.”

Spearing returned to Melwood energised last summer after a successful loan spell at Leicester City.

Roy Hodgson played him in Europa League games but it’s since Dalglish took over that he has really flourished.

The tough-tackling midfielder knows he owes a lot to the Scot.

“I am buzzing to be honest and pleased to have finally got everything sorted,” he said.

“I’ve been here for a long time and playing for Liverpool is all I have ever wanted to do, so hopefully I can keep going now.

“It has been a long time coming. I’ve been in the background and not had a run in the team, but now I’m getting that run I’ve been able to show my desire and commitment to the club.

“I owe a lot to the boss and hopefully I am repaying him with the games I am playing. Any player who has the belief of the manager always wants to go on and show what he can do.”

Last Sunday’s 3-0 victory against Newcastle lifted Liverpool above Spurs into fifth place on goal difference.

Spearing knows only maximum points will do at Craven Cottage as the Reds look to remain on course for Europa League qualification.

“The way we are playing and the form we are in, there is no reason why we can’t go to Fulham, get the three points and keep the pressure on Tottenham,” he added.

“The first half of the season didn’t go as well as we had planned but we have now showed what we can do.”

Dalglish believes Spearing’s desire and commitment is replicated throughout his squad and is the reason why Liverpool are finishing the campaign so strongly.

They will need to be at their best against a resurgent Fulham who won 3-0 at Sunderland last weekend to climb to ninth in the table.

Mark Hughes’ side are unbeaten in their last seven home league games – only Tottenham, Manchester City and West Ham have left Craven Cottage with maximum points this season.

“The players are being really enthusiastic in training and they’ve had their reward for it on the pitch,” Dalglish added.

“We’ve not been disappointed with any single player’s attitude since we came in.”