Kenny Dalglish is relishing the chance to unleash Liverpool FC captain Steven Gerrard again – but says he will not rush his comeback.
The Liverpool captain is unlikely to be passed fit to face Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday despite coming through a training match this week, with the midweek trip to Brighton in the Carling Cup now a more realistic target.
Dalglish says LFC must remain cautious over the timing of Gerrard’s return to first team action following his lengthy lay-off because of a serious groin injury and be careful not to raise expectations by naming the date for his comeback.
Having the England international back will be a significant boost for the rest of the squad says Dalglish but ensuring his return is for good rests on Liverpool showing “common sense”.
“We have just got to be careful,” said Dalglish.
“We are not going to get ahead of ourselves here and start talking Steven up for him not to play.
“That would then be seen as a disappointment. We will just take our time.
“Steven will be back for us when he is fit and well, when the timing is right for everyone. We just need to put the brakes on a wee bit. It sounds like people expect him back (to start) on Sunday. There is no date set for Steven to come back. No date whatsoever.
“He will only play when he is fit and well and when it suits us. That will be it. When he is at that stage, it will be fantastic for everybody but mainly for Steven himself. He loves playing and has been out for a while. The sooner he is back, the happier he will be.
“If you have got someone like Steven in your squad, it is going to raise the profile and the standard. We want to have a really strong squad and him being in it makes it much stronger.
“A fit Steven Gerrard strengthens this football club, no question. There is no player that will ever get taken for granted here. There are players who you will always appreciate what they have done for the football club and he is certainly one of them. He has done as much for the club as anyone else.
“That’s it in a nutshell.”
Gerrard is not the only Liverpool player having to be nursed back to full fitness with Glen Johnson and Fabio Aurelio also on the sidelines.
Martin Kelly is back in training following his slight hamstring injury and Dalglish says it is vital all the sidelined players are afforded time and patience, no matter how desperate they may be to play.
“We have always said that we have got to manage the situation, not just with Steven but for everybody. Fabio has had a lot of problems and he is totally frustrated that he cannot play. Everybody wants to play.
“But if you have been out that long, you may as well wait until it is right. We are not trying to be anything other than totally realistic and honest in our appraisal with Steven, Fabio and anyone else.”
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