Charlie Adam admits Xherdan Shaqiri has proved him wrong since sealing a summer move to Liverpool.
The Stoke City midfielder was critical of the Swiss international’s efforts last season as the pair slumped towards relegation from the Premier League.
Shaqiri’s work ethic, perhaps unfairly, came into question on several occasions, despite the playmaker leading his team with eight goals and seven assists.
Speaking back in July, Adam said: “When the chips are down you look at your big players.
“You want your big players to bring magic in one moment in the season, and it times we felt like the so-called big players in the squad never turned up for us and never performed.”
Having initially doubted Shaqiri’s ability to break into the Liverpool team, Adam has now praised his former teammate for his immediate impact.
“Listen, he went to Liverpool and he’s done incredible, so fair play to him,” he said on Sky’s Goals on Sunday.
“I said what I said but he’s a wonderful player, no doubt about that It was just a worry, would he get into Liverpool’s team? How would Liverpool find space in their team for him?
“But he’s got in and hasn’t looked back now.”
SEE MORE:
The significant Liverpool injury comeback you may have missed on Saturday…
Shaqiri has contributed two goals and two assists for the Reds so far this season, asserting himself as a potential solution to the team’s central playmaker void.
The 27-year-old was handed his second consecutive start at the weekend as he helped Jurgen Klopp’s side extend their unbeaten start to the Premier League season with a 3-0 win over Watford.
If there are any underlying issues with his desire or commitment, then Liverpool are yet to see them. Between his ball retrieval and work as a string-puller between the lines, he has been superb so far on Merseyside.