GERRARD ON HIS WAY BACK
Jan 22 2010 by Dominic King, Liverpool Echo
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STEVEN GERRARD is poised to hand Rafa Benitez a huge fitness boost with an imminent return to full training.
Liverpool’s captain missed Wednesday night’s 2-0 win over Tottenham, as well as the draw at Stoke, after tweaking his hamstring in the FA Cup defeat against Reading.
It was initially feared Gerrard would spend a minimum of two weeks on the sidelines but he has responded well to treatment and his rehabilitation has gone without a hitch.
Benitez and his medical staff will continue to monitor his situation but, provided all goes to plan, Gerrard could be back on the training pitches at some point over the weekend.
With no FA Cup commitment tomorrow, the Reds are not due back in action until next Tuesday night when they face a Premier League trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Though it is unlikely Gerrard will be pitched into that contest, if things continue to go smoothly, it would open up the prospect of him being involved when Bolton Wanderers visit next Saturday.
Having received such good news over Gerrard, Benitez revealed today that Fernando Torres’ recuperation from knee surgery is also going as expected and he remains on course to return within six weeks.
Torres was operated on in Barcelona last Saturday by Dr Ramon Cugat after he was forced off during the first half of that crushing defeat to Reading with a twisted knee.
The Reds’ number nine has endured a troubled season in terms of injury and has had the threat of surgery hanging over him all through November after he was diagnosed as having a sportsman’s hernia – which is actually a groin problem.
Had he chosen to have it back then, he would have faced a three-week lay-off, so many will be wondering why he didn’t have a second procedure, given that he will not be back until March and still requires treatment on the problem.
But Benitez revealed it wasn’t necessary to pursue that option, as the strengthening work Torres has been doing – every day he has been working for four or five hours – has reaped benefits.
“The problem was with his knee and now everything is fine,†Benitez said. “Fernando has been talking with the doctor and it was better than they were expecting.
“It is still going to be five or six weeks before he is fit but all is good. Why did he not have the second (groin) surgery? Because the docto said he doesn’t need it.â€
Jan 22 2010 by Dominic King, Liverpool Echo
Add a comment
Recommend
STEVEN GERRARD is poised to hand Rafa Benitez a huge fitness boost with an imminent return to full training.
Liverpool’s captain missed Wednesday night’s 2-0 win over Tottenham, as well as the draw at Stoke, after tweaking his hamstring in the FA Cup defeat against Reading.
It was initially feared Gerrard would spend a minimum of two weeks on the sidelines but he has responded well to treatment and his rehabilitation has gone without a hitch.
Benitez and his medical staff will continue to monitor his situation but, provided all goes to plan, Gerrard could be back on the training pitches at some point over the weekend.
With no FA Cup commitment tomorrow, the Reds are not due back in action until next Tuesday night when they face a Premier League trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Though it is unlikely Gerrard will be pitched into that contest, if things continue to go smoothly, it would open up the prospect of him being involved when Bolton Wanderers visit next Saturday.
Having received such good news over Gerrard, Benitez revealed today that Fernando Torres’ recuperation from knee surgery is also going as expected and he remains on course to return within six weeks.
Torres was operated on in Barcelona last Saturday by Dr Ramon Cugat after he was forced off during the first half of that crushing defeat to Reading with a twisted knee.
The Reds’ number nine has endured a troubled season in terms of injury and has had the threat of surgery hanging over him all through November after he was diagnosed as having a sportsman’s hernia – which is actually a groin problem.
Had he chosen to have it back then, he would have faced a three-week lay-off, so many will be wondering why he didn’t have a second procedure, given that he will not be back until March and still requires treatment on the problem.
But Benitez revealed it wasn’t necessary to pursue that option, as the strengthening work Torres has been doing – every day he has been working for four or five hours – has reaped benefits.
“The problem was with his knee and now everything is fine,†Benitez said. “Fernando has been talking with the doctor and it was better than they were expecting.
“It is still going to be five or six weeks before he is fit but all is good. Why did he not have the second (groin) surgery? Because the docto said he doesn’t need it.â€
