Hodgson Backs Joe Cole To Fire

Roy Hodgson accepts Joe Cole has made a bad start to his Liverpool career but is not reading much into his early tribulations.

Cole made a bright initial impression against Rabotnicki in a Europa League qualifier but that was quickly forgotten as he was sent off on his first Barclays Premier League appearance for the Reds against Arsenal.

That incurred a three-match domestic ban but, free to play on in Europe, he compounded his misery by missing a penalty against Trabzonspor on Thursday.

Cole's frustrations will continue as he is forced to sit out Monday's trip to Manchester City and Hodgson concedes, despite him being eligible for the return against Trabzonspor, it will be some time before he shines.

The Liverpool manager said: "The biggest blow is for him. He was so desperate to start his career here well and he hasn't done so.

"In his first game he managed to get himself sent off - albeit somewhat harshly - and in his second he missed a penalty.

"It has been a bad week for him and now it is going to be even worse because after the game in Turkey he will have to sit on his backside for two or three weeks because of the international break.

"It couldn't be a worse start for Joe Cole in his Liverpool career but starts are starts and finishes are finishes.

"We will judge Joe Cole on what he has done for Liverpool sometime in the middle of May when the final ball this season has been kicked."

Cole's arrival on a free transfer from Chelsea helped lift the mood at Anfield after the disappointment of last season's seventh-placed finish.

The England international was deployed in a playmaking role behind the front men in his early Liverpool outings and Hodgson wanted his creativity for the testing visit to Eastlands.

Hodgson will now rethink his tactics as he has no like-for-like replacement for the tricky 28-year-old.

The former Fulham boss said: "You play to your strengths. We have been using Joe where we think he serves the team best.

"If he is not playing someone else will come into the team and we will try to use him where he serves the team best.

"I am not hung up on a particular playing style. I have a footballing philosophy but not necessarily a particular system.

"It would be foolish to start discussing now how much we are going to miss Joe because he has only just come to the club anyway."

One player who could start is star striker Fernando Torres, who has made two substitute appearances since suffering a groin injury playing for Spain in the World Cup final.

Torres made an immediate impact when introduced at half-time against Trabzonspor and Hodgson feels he is now ready for 90 minutes.

Hodgson said: "He showed what a quality player he is on Thursday.

"He was a constant thorn in the flesh of the Turkish defence and was very unlucky not to score.

"We know what we have got in Fernando Torres and know over however many games we play he is going to be a very important player for us.

"It is really nice to see him back and it is important now we manage his fitness.

"It is important we look after him because we want him to be playing on a regular basis throughout the season and not only for a short period because we have overused him.

"Hopefully this year the Kop will see a lot of him."

Liverpool and Manchester City both have lofty ambitions but as the Merseysiders labour under weighty debts, the contrast in the resources available to Hodgson and opposite number Roberto Mancini is marked.

But Hodgson said: "People ask if I am envious but when you have got people like (Steven) Gerrard, (Javier) Mascherano and Torres, to name but three, it would be very foolish to get envious.

"I am quite philosophical about these things and we will be ready to play the game."