Welsh pleased to play at Prenton

John Welsh has scored three league goals for Tranmere Rovers this season

Tranmere Rovers midfielder John Welsh is enjoying the chance to play regular first-team football again following his summer move from Hull City.

The former Liverpool trainee has had a frustrating time since suffering a double leg break at Hull in March 2007.

But he has not missed a match following his summer move to Prenton Park, after starting all but one game - and scored the winner against Brighton last month.

"I seem to play a lot of games here and I'm happy about that," said Welsh.

"I want to play football and I want to be playing every week.

"I had to move away from Liverpool and it was the same at Hull.

"I wasn't playing there so I had to get away to find first-team football."

Welsh, who made his Premier League debut as a late substitute for Liverpool against Arsenal in October 2003, left Anfield for Hull in August 2005.

After being signed by his old England Under-21 coach Peter Taylor, he lost his place in the starting line-up under new boss Gary Parkinson.

But, in only his second start after Phil Brown took over, he was stretchered off just five minutes into Hull's 2-0 win over Preston in March 2007.

And he did not kick a ball for the Tigers either in their promotion season or in their first season in the Premier League.

He spent a month out on loan at Chester two seasons ago and then had two more loan spells last season, first at Carlisle United this time a year ago and then at Bury.

He was then signed by former Liverpool great John Barnes in the summer.

But, a month on from Barnes' sacking, 25-year-old Welsh is enjoying being part of a Rovers side now trying to turn things round under caretaker boss Les Parry.

And Welsh believes that playing at Carrow Road on Saturday will inspire the League One strugglers against fifth-placed Norwich City.

Welsh told BBC Radio Merseyside: "It's a great venue to play at and they are a decent side.

"I am sure the venue will spur the lads on. If we can turn the crowd against them and maybe be 0-0 at half-time then anything can happen.

"Our fans will get behind us, it's a long journey down there so we want to give them something to cheer about."