Norwich City new boy Daniel Ayala is looking to show Liverpool they made a mistake in letting him leave Anfield.

The defender signed a four-year deal with the Canaries earlier this week after Reds boss Kenny Dalglish told the Spaniard he wasn’t in his first team plans.

Ayala played just five games for Liverpool after signing as a 16-year-old from Sevilla but loan spells at Derby County and Hull City caught the attention of City boss Paul Lambert and he jumped at the challenge of establishing himself at another Premier League side.

“It is a bit sad to leave a big club like Liverpool but I am really happy to be here and to play first team football,” said the Spaniard, who joined the Canaries for a reported �800,000 fee.

“Hopefully I can play a lot of games here.

“It was up to the manager (Dalglish) there. I just trained hard and was ready to play. Maybe he didn’t think I was good enough so I didn’t have a chance but I am confident in myself and I need to prove everyone wrong.

“It was difficult because I didn’t have many games but when Rafa (Benitez) left then at that point was when I went on loan to Hull and Derby to get some minutes and why I came here to get first team football.

“I don’t know (if Dalglish is more interested in developing English players). Maybe. I came here just to play football and that is what I want to do.”

It is of course the second time Norwich have raided the Anfield club’s Spanish contingent having taken Daniel Pacheco on loan towards the end of last season.

And Ayala admitted his fellow countryman had only good things to say about Lambert’s side and convinced him it would be the right move for his career.

“I was in Liverpool so it was very difficult but I have to play first team football and I will try to do my best. I spoke with him (Dani Pacheco) a few days ago before I signed and he talked really well about this club and said I would like it here.

“It’s different from Liverpool that is for sure but there is a really good feeling about Norwich as well so in that respect it is the same.”

At 6ft 3ins Ayala cuts an imposing figure and has no fears that he won’t be able to adjust to the physical nature of Premier League football.

Ayala insists he is ready to be plunged into the heat of Premier League battle against Stoke City tomorrow and has good memories of playing against the Potters having made his Liverpool debut in a 4-0 win against them in 2009.

“I am ready to play on Sunday but I know the competition is really tough. There are a lot of centre backs who did really well on Saturday. “I expect a physical challenge because the Premier League is the best league in the world so it will be difficult but I am ready for it. Yes, I played Stoke on my debut for Liverpool. I know what to expect. They are tough but we won 4-0 that day. I like the physical challenge.”