Rafa Benitez insists he is happy with the progress Alberto Aquilani is making as he plots his return to action.
The Italian midfielder made the switch to Anfield in a £20million deal from Roma last month.
Aquilani has spent the past three weeks continuing his rehabilitation at Melwood following the ankle surgery he underwent back in May.
The 25-year-old is unlikely to make his debut before the start of October but Benitez is confident he will be worth the wait.
“Alberto is improving,” Benitez revealed. “We were talking before about six to eight weeks and after a few weeks his ankle is much better but he will need time.
“He’s in the swimming pool and in the gym and working with the physios but he’s not jogging yet.
“We cannot put a date on things and it’s important to just see how he progresses.
“We are checking on him regularly and he had a scan in the past week which showed he is much better.
“It’s just a case of keeping an eye on him every day. When he does start to play everyone will see what a clever player he is.”
Aquilani was signed as a replacement for Xabi Alonso, who joined Real Madrid in a £30m deal.
The departure of Alonso has been blamed for the Reds’ mixed start to the season but Benitez insists his side can cope without the Spaniard.
“We won a lot of games last season without Xabi,” Benitez said.
“Xabi is a good player but he decided to go. He’s not here so we have to concentrate on those players who are here.
“Gerrard, Mascherano, Lucas and Plessis are our midfielders now and Aquilani when he’s fit.
“We have to support these players and not talk about one player who decided to go.”
The international break means Liverpool are without a game until they entertain Burnley on September 12.
By that time Benitez expects to have left-back Fabio Aurelio back in his squad following the knee problem which has forced him to miss the start of the campaign.
“Fabio is back training and playing football,” Benitez said.
“After the end of the international break I don’t think he will have any problems and he will be able to be involved in normal training sessions and be in the squad.
“Daniel Agger is walking again after his back operation and Nabil El Zhar’s knee injury is also improving so that is very positive.”
The Italian midfielder made the switch to Anfield in a £20million deal from Roma last month.
Aquilani has spent the past three weeks continuing his rehabilitation at Melwood following the ankle surgery he underwent back in May.
The 25-year-old is unlikely to make his debut before the start of October but Benitez is confident he will be worth the wait.
“Alberto is improving,” Benitez revealed. “We were talking before about six to eight weeks and after a few weeks his ankle is much better but he will need time.
“He’s in the swimming pool and in the gym and working with the physios but he’s not jogging yet.
“We cannot put a date on things and it’s important to just see how he progresses.
“We are checking on him regularly and he had a scan in the past week which showed he is much better.
“It’s just a case of keeping an eye on him every day. When he does start to play everyone will see what a clever player he is.”
Aquilani was signed as a replacement for Xabi Alonso, who joined Real Madrid in a £30m deal.
The departure of Alonso has been blamed for the Reds’ mixed start to the season but Benitez insists his side can cope without the Spaniard.
“We won a lot of games last season without Xabi,” Benitez said.
“Xabi is a good player but he decided to go. He’s not here so we have to concentrate on those players who are here.
“Gerrard, Mascherano, Lucas and Plessis are our midfielders now and Aquilani when he’s fit.
“We have to support these players and not talk about one player who decided to go.”
The international break means Liverpool are without a game until they entertain Burnley on September 12.
By that time Benitez expects to have left-back Fabio Aurelio back in his squad following the knee problem which has forced him to miss the start of the campaign.
“Fabio is back training and playing football,” Benitez said.
“After the end of the international break I don’t think he will have any problems and he will be able to be involved in normal training sessions and be in the squad.
“Daniel Agger is walking again after his back operation and Nabil El Zhar’s knee injury is also improving so that is very positive.”
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