Roy Rejects Pacheco Exit Talk

Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson has rejected rumours linking Daniel Pacheco with a move away from the club.

Reports have suggested that Pacheco was seeking to quit the club in January after growing increasingly frustrated with his lack of first-team opportunities.

Highly-rated forward Pacheco has not played for the first team since the shock Carling Cup exit to Northampton at the end of September fuelling rumours over his long-term future at Anfield.

However, Hodgson has dismissed rumours the Spaniard could be offloaded and insists the 19-year-old remains part of his plans.

"He's been doing quite well. He had a little down period which I suppose coincided with the unfortunate Northampton game, when every one of the young players was thrown in together," Hodgson told the club's official website.

"He stuck at his task and in training he's been doing very well. In the last couple of reserve games he's played very well too. It's nice to know he's still very much a part of the Liverpool future.

"He's unlucky in the position he plays, just behind the striker or in a wide role. That's probably where we have most competition at the club right now. For a young player it's not easy to knock the likes of Joe Cole, Dirk Kuyt and Maxi Rodriguez off their perch.

"Having said that, we still believe in him. We think he's a good player and he's got a very bright future.

"Of course there'll be lots of other clubs out there who want to take him but if he really wants to be at the top level he might be well advised to keep learning his trade with these sorts of people around him, rather than to become a bigger fish at a smaller club.

"I'm sure he'll be in the squad for the Europa League next week. I can't guarantee he will start but that's certainly not beyond the bounds of possibility because he has done well enough recently to force his way back to our attention."