Gerrard boost for Liverpool
Steven Gerrard believes he will be back in action for Liverpool in 12 days after dismissing claims he could be out for more than three weeks and miss up to six matches.
The midfielder misses England’s final World Cup group six qualifier on Wednesday against Poland at Old Trafford with a shin-muscle strain sustained in the weekend victory over Austria.
Gerrard has had a scan and treatment at Liverpool’s Melwood training complex and now confidently predicts: “The injury is not as bad as people are saying.”
He will be out for Liverpool’s Barclays Premiership home game with Blackburn on Saturday and their Champions League trip to Brussels where they play Anderlecht next week.
But Gerrard has already pencilled in the trip to Fulham on October 22 for his comeback.
He returned home to Merseyside from England’s headquarters on Sunday to see a gloomy prediction that he could be out for at least three weeks and miss as many as six games, including the Anfield return against Anderlecht on November 1 and even the following league game on November 5 at Aston Villa.
But he said: “I heard it said on television that I will be out for three weeks, but I think I will be okay for the Fulham game. I had a scan straight after the England match and went to Melwood for treatment yesterday.
“The Liverpool medical staff are confident I’ll be back after the next two games, so that is what I am aiming for.
“I picked up the knock during the England game and it was a bit of a worry at first, but it is not that serious.”
Gerrard was hurt during the first half of England’s win over Austria, but played on as Sven-Goran Eriksson’s side struggled with 10 men following the dismissal of David Beckham.
Now Liverpool are paying the price, with the loss of their influential skipper for games that could shape their faltering season.
After the home mauling by Chelsea in the league, Rafael Benitez’s side desperately need a convincing victory to steady their nerves. And against Mark Hughes’ tough Blackburn, who drew at Anfield last term, that will not be easy.
And Liverpool must also get something from the trip to Brussels after forcing a draw from their last Champions League game with Chelsea.
But although the loss of Gerrard is a major blow, Benitez has Mali international midfielder Mohamed Sissoko fit again to play in midfield in place of the Anfield skipper.
