Gerrard Set To Return To Training On Monday

Steven Gerrard is scheduled to return to full training with Liverpool on Monday after recovering from an ankle infection.

The club captain has spent the past week continuing his rehabilitation in the United Arab Emirates, with club doctors believing the warmer climes would enable him to return to fitness sooner. Although no timescale has been put on his return to competitive action, the Telegraph reports it is hoped Gerrard will be available for the FA Cup third round tie against Oldham at the start of January.

Gerrard has seen his campaign ravaged by injury, with the ankle infection coming just a month after he had recovered from a groin injury that prevented him from playing at the start of the season.

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish will be particularly keen to have the midfielder back among his squad, especially over the hectic festive period. Dalglish admitted on Thursday that he will use all his options over the next few weeks - with under-fire striker Andy Carroll given the chance to press his claim for further first team football.

"Everybody will get an opportunity. I wouldn't know who has played how many games in a row and we won't judge by that," Dalglish said. "Every one of them is ready to step in and play. There is no individual we are not comfortable with putting in.

"Everybody will be hoping they take part but not because someone is injured but because it would be right for them to take part in a game. In that I think they're well set up for it. The performances in the Carling Cup, where we've made a lot of changes for all the games, proved to the players and the people who've been watching the players who haven't played as much as they'd like that they're very capable of stepping in. That's all we can ask for.

"Everybody's got to be prepared and ready to play. They will all expect to play some part in some of the games. A lot of the games are in proximity to one another.

"Everyone keeps throwing up exams for people but I think they've stood the test of time. They've done brilliantly. They've got to the semi-final of the Carling Cup, what else can you ask for?"