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Wanderers skipper Jay Spearing believes he has the perfect role models to adapt to a different directive in the midfield engine room this season.
The young Liverpudlian has recently passed the 100-appearance mark with the Whites and was handed the club captaincy at the start of the season.
But he is always looking for improvement to his game and wants to learn from manager Neil Lennon and have the same impact on the Wanderers team as his former team-mate Steven Gerrard does for his old club Liverpool.
Spearing came through the ranks at Anfield to play alongside the Reds skipper and admits he learned a lot from watching Gerrard in training and playing alongside him.
And having seen the Kop legend establish himself as the driving force for his boyhood club in recent years, he wants to replicate that at the Macron Stadium as he moves into a second century of games for the Whites.
Spearing told the club: "I have looked at games Stevie has featured in to see how he plays the role.
"He has done it for years though, it's not just been for the last couple of years.
"He's been getting hold of games and controlling them for a long time.
"While I was there I would watch him pass a ball and try to pick up something from that to help improve my own game.
"The way Steve plays that role is something I want to be able to get into my game more here."
Spearing has been deployed in a new diamond formation by new boss Lennon prior to sitting out the last two matches.
It is a role he is confident of adapting his game to and as well as using Gerrard as a benchmark, he feels he can also benefit from listening to the Wanderers manager who was also a midfielder of distinction during his playing days with Crewe, Leicester and Celtic and internationally for Northern Ireland.
Spearing says Lennon is the ideal mentor to help him develop his game further.
And he wants to add goals to his game, too, after netting just five times in more than two years with the Whites.
He added: "Playing in the diamond formation, the gaffer wants me to get forward.
"It helps having him here because he had a very successful playing career before he became a manager and having been a central midfielder, he knows the position well.
"My role in the team is now similar to how he used to play so it definitely helps my game listening to him as well and learning from him because he knows what he is talking about."
Spearing turns 26 later this month but admits he is continuously looking to improve.
He feels he can be the man to take control of games from midfield.
And he is sure under Lennon's stewardship, he can flourish alongside his team-mates and push the Whites up the Championship table going into the busy festive programme and into the new year.
Spearing said: "Controlling games is something I've learned to do throughout my career and I want to keep improving.
"I'm now looking forward to playing under the new manager and hopefully we can get up the table where I feel this club belongs, challenging for promotion."
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The young Liverpudlian has recently passed the 100-appearance mark with the Whites and was handed the club captaincy at the start of the season.
But he is always looking for improvement to his game and wants to learn from manager Neil Lennon and have the same impact on the Wanderers team as his former team-mate Steven Gerrard does for his old club Liverpool.
Spearing came through the ranks at Anfield to play alongside the Reds skipper and admits he learned a lot from watching Gerrard in training and playing alongside him.
And having seen the Kop legend establish himself as the driving force for his boyhood club in recent years, he wants to replicate that at the Macron Stadium as he moves into a second century of games for the Whites.
Spearing told the club: "I have looked at games Stevie has featured in to see how he plays the role.
"He has done it for years though, it's not just been for the last couple of years.
"He's been getting hold of games and controlling them for a long time.
"While I was there I would watch him pass a ball and try to pick up something from that to help improve my own game.
"The way Steve plays that role is something I want to be able to get into my game more here."
Spearing has been deployed in a new diamond formation by new boss Lennon prior to sitting out the last two matches.
It is a role he is confident of adapting his game to and as well as using Gerrard as a benchmark, he feels he can also benefit from listening to the Wanderers manager who was also a midfielder of distinction during his playing days with Crewe, Leicester and Celtic and internationally for Northern Ireland.
Spearing says Lennon is the ideal mentor to help him develop his game further.
And he wants to add goals to his game, too, after netting just five times in more than two years with the Whites.
He added: "Playing in the diamond formation, the gaffer wants me to get forward.
"It helps having him here because he had a very successful playing career before he became a manager and having been a central midfielder, he knows the position well.
"My role in the team is now similar to how he used to play so it definitely helps my game listening to him as well and learning from him because he knows what he is talking about."
Spearing turns 26 later this month but admits he is continuously looking to improve.
He feels he can be the man to take control of games from midfield.
And he is sure under Lennon's stewardship, he can flourish alongside his team-mates and push the Whites up the Championship table going into the busy festive programme and into the new year.
Spearing said: "Controlling games is something I've learned to do throughout my career and I want to keep improving.
"I'm now looking forward to playing under the new manager and hopefully we can get up the table where I feel this club belongs, challenging for promotion."
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