Jay Spearing hopes to use his loan spell at Championship side Leicester City as a springboard to impress Rafa Benitez and prove he has what it takes to play at the highest level.

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The Reds No.26 has joined Nigel Pearson's promotion hopefuls until the end of the season and made his debut when he came off the bench for the final 25 minutes during Wednesday's 2-1 defeat to Reading.

 "Coming to a massive club like Leicester it's a great opportunity for me to try and play regular football and then come back to Liverpool and fight for a place," Spearing told Liverpoolfc.tv.

"I love Liverpool and that's where I want to be. I've supported them all of my life but opportunities at the moment are limited.

"I spoke to the boss and he was happy to let me go to Leicester and get some experience. He told me to come back fighting again in pre-season and battle for a place in the team.

"There are not enough games at Reserve team level and I need to play regularly to improve as a player and show what I can do.

"The manager here wants to play football in the right way with a passing style, which suits my game down to the ground. It's perfect for me because I've been brought up on the Liverpool way which is to get the ball down and pass it.

"It was an easy decision for me to come here. Leicester are a really good club and hopefully we can end the season in the play-off places.

"The Leicester supporters gave me a great reception on Wednesday and it was great to get out in front of 20,000 fans and play. We were unfortunate to lose 2-1 after conceding a last minute penalty which we didn't feel was.

"We were disappointed to lose in that manner but the manager told us not to dwell on it. He said we were the better side and we've just got to concentrate on Saturday's game away at Derby County."

The Wirral born midfielder, who has been at the club since the age of eight, teams up again at the Walkers Stadium with Jack Hobbs, who has been a revelation since making the permanent move from L4.

The pair played together in Liverpool's FA Youth Cup winning team in 2006.

"Jack is a great lad and he has been a big help in me settling in pretty quickly in the space of a few days," said Spearing.

"The Leicester fans love him. He is a strong tall lad, a great defender and he played really well again against Reading.

"Astrit Ajdarevic, who was at our Academy, is also here and James Vaughan is on loan from Everton so there are a few familiar faces."

The Foxes are currently fourth in the Championship and are eyeing an end of season play-off place which could culminate in a trip to Wembley in the battle for promotion to the Barclays Premier League.

"That would be fantastic," said Spearing. "That's the main thing we are fighting for and hopefully we can do it. We were underdogs at the start of the year but playing at Wembley would put the icing on the cake for everyone really."

The Reserve team vice-captain also admits he will be keeping a close eye on John McMahon's team and is backing them to pip Manchester United for the Barclays Premier Reserve League North title.

"It would be great to beat United," he added.

"There are some great players in the Reserve team and great lads as well. John will have them well prepared and I wish them all the best and hopefully we can do it."

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