Fernando Torres says Liverpool's struggles have spurred him on• Striker is working harder than ever after injury
• Extra training involves up to five hours more work
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Press Association
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 5 January 2010 22.59 GMT Article history
Fernando Torres is putting in up to five hours extra work in training every day after his injury lay-off. Photograph: Nick Wilkinson/EPA
Fernando Torres has revealed that Liverpool's struggles this season have spurred him on to put in additional fitness work to get himself right for the rest of the campaign.
The Spain forward missed six matches between November and December because of a groin problem which, at one stage, was feared to require surgery but he has played the full 90 minutes in his last four games.
And although he is not yet at his sharpest, with only one goal during those 360 minutes, he is working extremely hard to get his – and Liverpool's – season back on track.
"I am good now. Much better than a couple of months ago," the 25-year-old said. "I need to keep working three, four or five hours more than the rest of the squad because I need to keep recovering for the rest of the season.
"One of the reasons I'm working really hard is because I know in this situation Liverpool need every player fit.
"It's a difficult time but it's worth it if I want to play. I do the normal training session with my team-mates but before and after I have to do treatment, exercises and gym work to make my leg strong enough. We are doing a good job and I'm feeling nothing bad in my leg.
"I have been able to play 90 minutes in the last four games so I'm really happy with the progression. Maybe I'll have to do this all season."
Torres admits he had found it difficult to watch from the sidelines as the team laboured in a season when they have already lost seven times, slipped to seventh in the Premier League and been knocked out of the Champions League.
It has been a testing time for the Spaniard after a blistering start to his Liverpool career following his £20m transfer from Atlético Madrid in 2007.
"It's frustrating because I've never been injured before – not at Atlético and only one small one during my first season here," he said. "The last two seasons have been the first time I've had consecutive injuries.
"Always when the team is not in the best moment it's frustrating if you can't help your team-mates. It's really hard watching the games from the stands.
"I'm not old but I'm not that young, so I need to look after myself with extra work. I know I have to work harder in order to play three games a week until the end of my career. I need to work harder than before."
Torres thanked the medical team at the club's Melwood training ground for getting him through his difficult spell.
"They have helped me a lot. They are the professionals and know what they have to do," he said. "It's thanks to them that I can keep playing. I can play every game now. Without their help maybe I'd not be playing, so thanks to all the physios and medical staff."
