Brendan Rodgers believes Nuri Sahin is beginning to demonstrate exactly why he was so keen to take the midfielder to Liverpool.

Real Madrid's Turkey international moved to Anfield on a season-long loan at the beginning of the campaign after deciding against a switch to Arsenal.

Sahin arrived at Liverpool with a good reputation having been named Germany's player of the year with Borussia Dortmund in 2010/11.

The 24-year-old had subsequently struggled to make an impact at Real when competing for a place with Sami Khedira, Xabi Alonso and Lassana Diarra.

But Rodgers was always confident and said after watching Sahin produce a goal and fine performance in Saturday's win at Norwich City: "Nuri was a wonderful player at a young age in Germany and did wonderfully well for Borussia Dortmund.

"He was German player of the year before he moved to Real Madrid.

"He just found it hard to play through injury and was competing with in-form players like Khedira, Alonso and Diarra.

"He's a master technician, he's hungry and he wants to prove himself."

Sahin also scored two goals as Liverpool came from one down to win at West Bromwich Albion in the Capital One Cup last Wednesday.

And Rodgers continued: "I knew him when he was a young player but, of course, affordability and availability are two key things when you are a manager.

"He was a young player who I thought would fit in once he got up to speed and now he is starting to get up to speed.

"He was captain of Dortmund at a very young age so he has natural leadership qualities. He has settled in very well."

Source: Sky Sports