Friday, November 26, 2010

Hodgson - Aurelio Important

Fabio Aurelio has a key role to play in the rest of Liverpool's season, according to manager Roy Hodgson.

The Brazilian left-back impressed his boss after making his comeback from an Achilles injury as a substitute in last Saturday's 3-0 victory over West Ham United.

Aurelio, who was released by the Reds in the summer before Hodgson re-signed the former Valencia player, came on to play on the left of midfield.

And the Anfield chief has told the 31-year-old he may be deployed in a more advanced position in the coming weeks.

"Fabio's had to work very hard because he's been dogged by bad luck for the last couple of years," he told The Liverpool Echo.

"It was nice to see him back on the field again and he played with great confidence.

"He can definitely play as a left midfielder.

"When we re-signed him we were thinking we needed two good left-backs at the club and that he'd be competing for one of those places in the team, but I saw him do very well in Trabzonspor when he moved up into midfield, and he tells me that when he was in Valencia he played in midfield very often.

"It's definitely an option. If he can stay fit then it could be a really good boost to our team.

"Already I've got him pencilled in for the game against Steaua Bucharest, so let's hope he can stay fit until then and I can see him in a 90-minute game."

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