"Yes. I think if you pray enough for things, well I'm proof that they can happen. I'm absolutely delighted to be back. I feel like a kid waking up on Christmas morning every day now! It's fantastic and it's something that I have wanted to happen for such a long time. I am very glad that it has come about again."

When did you first get an inkling that this deal would happen?

"Probably on Wednesday night. Obviously there were a few rumours flying around before then and, like everybody else, I wanted them to be true. Friday, when it all got sorted, was a really surreal day. When Mr Parry put the contract in front of me, I didn't have to read it. I was very confident in what I was doing and it is an absolutely fantastic position in to be in - having the chance to come back here and I am hoping that I can repay the manager's faith in me."

Has it been emotional and have there been tears shed?

"No, if I am being honest I haven't shed any tears, but I think that you can all tell by the look on my face just how much it means to me to come back. It's something that I have wanted to happen for a long time. It's always nice coming back to your first love and thankfully now I'm here."

Is this move the ideal motivation for you at this stage in your career?

"It would be wrong to say that I wasn't motivated any where else but obviously when a club of Liverpool's stature comes in for you… I think it's only normal that you should want to come to a club like this and, obviously I am no different from any other player, but because of my past playing for Liverpool, it means an awful lot more to me than it would to any other player."

Can you be objective about what you feel you can provide for Liverpool or what kind of state of fitness you are in?

"I have got to go off what the manager thinks and whatever the manager says, goes. He can assess me on the training pitch. The decision is ultimately down to the manager and nobody else."

Any word on Manchester City, because we hear that Stuart Pearce was instrumental in this move...

"Yes, he has been very good. Once I was aware of Liverpool's interest, I told Stuart Pearce and the Chief Executive at Man City and they both looked in my eyes and instantly knew what I wanted. With a lot of help from them and a lot of help from Mr Parry and Mr Benitez, the move was made possible."

If you walk around Anfield at the moment, they say 'God' is back. The people here seem overjoyed, have you had much contact from people from around the area?

"Well, on Friday my phone never stopped, it was just red hot. Coming back I sort of half-expected a little bit of publicity but the amount of press coverage I've received and the people phoning into the radio stations; it has been nothing short of magic and I am very, very grateful for it."

Have you completely managed to forget about Round One? Obviously walking out of here four years ago was very painful for you - has all that gone now?

"Of course, it's all gone because I'm back here now. Obviously I was sad to leave, but I'm back and it feels great. Now I have got other things to look forward to like putting on the Red shirt again and walking out of the tunnel will be something I'm really looking forward to."

And plenty of familiar faces because there are a lot of people here from four years ago...

"Yes but there are a lot of new players here as well and the manager has spent well. No disrespect to the last time I was here but this squad is a much better squad. I think any player coming in would be very, very impressed looking around the dressing room and looking at the players out on the training pitch.

The manager said that he feels you can help the club step up to the next level. Do you feel that you have joined a club that is going in that direction?

"Well, what they achieved last year was amazing and this year they have had a fantastic record in terms of not conceding. If I can help in any way at all by raising any one's performance or whatever, then it is beneficial to me and to the club."

You said you were in Istanbul on that famous night. Did you feel any regret that you had left all this behind?

"Well, that night I was just like any other Liverpool supporter in that I wanted to be on the pitch. I thought that it was over at half-time and I don't know what Mr Benitez said before the second-half, but I'm looking forward to his team talks now and hopefully they can have a similar effect on me."

How does it work in the dressing room? Have you got your old peg back?

"No, I haven't. A lot of people have asked what number I will be but I'm not really bothered about that. Numbers mean nothing to me; it's the badge on the front that I care about and that's what means the most.

Manchester United in the FA Cup. What do you think about that?

"That's a massive, massive game. All the lads will be delighted with that draw and if you want to win competitions, you have to beat the big teams so it doesn't really matter what round you beat them as long as you do." Walking out in front a load of photographers is not very emotional but have you thought about what it is going to be like when you walk out in front of the Kop?

"No, not really. I don't think I will really be able to until it happens but I think when it does happen, I'll feel it."

Does it all feel natural? Does it feel like home again when you walk out and see that 'This is Anfield' sign?

"It's actually a funny feeling at the moment because I'm not really used to it again yet. I'm not normally a nervous lad but coming into training on Saturday morning, I was a touch nervous and like I said before, a kid on Christmas morning doesn't even come close to the emotions that I was feeling."

What about your family and your mates? Did you discuss it with them? And what do they think about you returning?

"Everyone is absolutely delighted for me but they have always wanted me to come back. If I'm honest, I didn't ever think it would happen but it's what they've been praying for and well. I'm here now, so fingers crossed that I do well."

How clear are you in your own mind about what you want achieve this time around?

"I don't think it's about what I personally want to achieve. It's not about any individual player. The aim of anybody playing for Liverpool is to win as many trophies as you can as a team and win as many games as possible. The more games you win, the more trophies it leads too."

You have only been given a six-month deal. Has anybody told you what you have to do to secure a longer-term contract?

"No, nobody has told me what I have to do. I think I know myself what I have to do. I know it's only a short-term deal but hopefully I'm very, very good here and I would like to stay for as long as I can. It's just solely down to me. If I perform well, then the manager and Mr Parry will sit down and discuss my future. I'm not getting carried away and I have got six months to prove myself. For now, I just want to enjoy that time."