Liverpool are planning a total overhaul of Fernando Torres's medical care to try to discover the reason for his fifth hamstring injury in 16 months. The Spanish striker broke down again during Wednesday's Champions League victory over Marseilles and scans have revealed a repetition of the injury that could rule him out for three weeks, with the trip to Arsenal on 21 December being the tentative target for his comeback.
Torres has had three similar injuries on international duty, and two now with Liverpool, since his arrival from Atletico Madrid. His manager, Rafael Benitez, revealed that Torres has no history of such an injury in Spain, which further deepens the concerns over his fitness.
"Fernando had no such muscle or hamstring problems while with Atletico Madrid," Benitez said. Torres is also concerned by the problem. "I am a little disappointed, but all I can do is move forward," the 24-year-old striker said. "It is worrying because it has happened a few times. After this latest injury the important thing is to recover without rushing a comeback date and trying to make sure it does not happen again."
Torres will miss Monday's game at home to West Ham United, and could also be out for the matches against Blackburn Rovers, PSV Eindhoven and Hull City.
"We are very disappointed with the situation," Benitez said. "We have to analyse why it has happened. We have been working with prevention exercises in the past, and still we have the same problem.
"We were taking time with him, he wasn't being rushed back. The time and training was all under control, as was all the exercises. The doctor and the physio were both working very hard with Fernando and they are both first class, but now it is the same situation. We will now not be taking any risks with his comeback. If he is fit then he will play, if he is not fit then he won't, it is simple."
Torres had short spells against West Bromwich Albion, Tottenham Hotspur and Bolton Wanderers, plus a substitute appearance for Spain against Chile. Then he played two full games and broke down again.
"Everything was under control," Benitez said. "But maybe against Marseilles he was tired towards the end of the match and that is when it happened again. He went on a sprint and pulled something.
"Now we will have to start all over again to try to solve this problem. I have talked to Fernando looking for a solution, and also with the doctor and physio staff. We must solve this, it is not a serious injury, more one that is difficult to cure."
Torres has had three similar injuries on international duty, and two now with Liverpool, since his arrival from Atletico Madrid. His manager, Rafael Benitez, revealed that Torres has no history of such an injury in Spain, which further deepens the concerns over his fitness.
"Fernando had no such muscle or hamstring problems while with Atletico Madrid," Benitez said. Torres is also concerned by the problem. "I am a little disappointed, but all I can do is move forward," the 24-year-old striker said. "It is worrying because it has happened a few times. After this latest injury the important thing is to recover without rushing a comeback date and trying to make sure it does not happen again."
Torres will miss Monday's game at home to West Ham United, and could also be out for the matches against Blackburn Rovers, PSV Eindhoven and Hull City.
"We are very disappointed with the situation," Benitez said. "We have to analyse why it has happened. We have been working with prevention exercises in the past, and still we have the same problem.
"We were taking time with him, he wasn't being rushed back. The time and training was all under control, as was all the exercises. The doctor and the physio were both working very hard with Fernando and they are both first class, but now it is the same situation. We will now not be taking any risks with his comeback. If he is fit then he will play, if he is not fit then he won't, it is simple."
Torres had short spells against West Bromwich Albion, Tottenham Hotspur and Bolton Wanderers, plus a substitute appearance for Spain against Chile. Then he played two full games and broke down again.
"Everything was under control," Benitez said. "But maybe against Marseilles he was tired towards the end of the match and that is when it happened again. He went on a sprint and pulled something.
"Now we will have to start all over again to try to solve this problem. I have talked to Fernando looking for a solution, and also with the doctor and physio staff. We must solve this, it is not a serious injury, more one that is difficult to cure."
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