Liverpool assistant boss Sammy Lee has hailed the return to fitness of left-back Fabio Aurelio.
The Brazilian has been sidelined since he injured his knee in a freak accident while playing with his son in the close season.
He missed all the Reds’ friendly matches and has sat out their first four Premier League clashes.
But the 29-year-old is now back in full training at Melwood and is in line to make his comeback at home to Burnley on Saturday.
Aurelio’s return increases competition for places with youngster Emiliano Insua having been preferred at left-back to Italian Andrea Dossena so far this season.
“Fabio will be like a new signing for us,” Lee said.
“He wasn’t available for pre-season, but he’s coming back and hopefully we’ll have him chomping at the bit and competing for a place very shortly. Any team likes to have all of their players available. That brings its own problems of course because you have to pick a team from them, but we would prefer to have that problem than a situation where players are out injured
“Rafa has said on many occasions he is confident with the squad we have and we feel we can mount a challenge on all fronts.”
Meanwhile, Lee has leapt to the defence of Liverpool right-back Glen Johnson.
The £17million defender was criticised for his performance for England in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Slovenia, but Lee has been delighted with the impact Johnson has made at Anfield since he made the switch from Portsmouth.
The 25-year-old has added a new dimension to the Reds’ attacking play and has already helped himself to two goals in four appearances.
“Glen is a quality player in a quality team and I think he has added something to us,” Lee added.
“What we try to do in each and every area and department is recruit quality and we feel we have done with Glen.
“He has come here and has been willing to listen and learn. For someone who is already an established England international that’s great and long may it continue.”
The Brazilian has been sidelined since he injured his knee in a freak accident while playing with his son in the close season.
He missed all the Reds’ friendly matches and has sat out their first four Premier League clashes.
But the 29-year-old is now back in full training at Melwood and is in line to make his comeback at home to Burnley on Saturday.
Aurelio’s return increases competition for places with youngster Emiliano Insua having been preferred at left-back to Italian Andrea Dossena so far this season.
“Fabio will be like a new signing for us,” Lee said.
“He wasn’t available for pre-season, but he’s coming back and hopefully we’ll have him chomping at the bit and competing for a place very shortly. Any team likes to have all of their players available. That brings its own problems of course because you have to pick a team from them, but we would prefer to have that problem than a situation where players are out injured
“Rafa has said on many occasions he is confident with the squad we have and we feel we can mount a challenge on all fronts.”
Meanwhile, Lee has leapt to the defence of Liverpool right-back Glen Johnson.
The £17million defender was criticised for his performance for England in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Slovenia, but Lee has been delighted with the impact Johnson has made at Anfield since he made the switch from Portsmouth.
The 25-year-old has added a new dimension to the Reds’ attacking play and has already helped himself to two goals in four appearances.
“Glen is a quality player in a quality team and I think he has added something to us,” Lee added.
“What we try to do in each and every area and department is recruit quality and we feel we have done with Glen.
“He has come here and has been willing to listen and learn. For someone who is already an established England international that’s great and long may it continue.”
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