Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano met up with new
manager Roy Hodgson for the first time this morning after returning
to pre-season training.
The Argentina captain has been uncontactable since going on
holiday after the World Cup but was back at Melwood on schedule
along with compatriot Maxi Rodriguez.
Hodgson tried to speak to the 26-year-old, who has been heavily
linked with a summer reunion with former Reds boss Rafael Benitez
at Inter Milan, following the end of the player's involvement in
South Africa.
However, the 62-year-old Englishman was only able to leave
messages for Mascherano telling him he was looking forward to
meeting him back on Merseyside as his calls were not returned.
Hodgson will outline his plans to Mascherano in much the same
way as he has already done to senior players Steven Gerrard, Jamie
Carragher and Fernando Torres in an attempt to persuade him he has
a future at Anfield.
But there still remains a nagging doubt that the combative
midfielder, who was offered a new contract in the latter stages of
last season, has set his sights on a move to the continent.
Neither Mascherano nor Rodriguez will be available for
Thursday's Europa League third qualifying round first leg tie
against Rabotnicki in Macedonia.
However, Hodgson admits he may have to field a number of his
other World Cup stars earlier than he would have liked.
The club's medical staff have warned their manager bringing the
likes of Gerrard, Carragher, Glen Johnson, new signing Jole Cole
and Daniel Agger back too soon may have dire effects later in the
season.
Unfortunately, a largely reserve side has failed to score in two
pre-season friendlies and Hodgson admits he may not be able to
afford to take the risk of not using senior players.
"I don't know what to do at this stage," he said.
"I will have to liaise with them and (head of sports science)
Peter Brukner and make a decision by Tuesday on what sort of team I
can put out.
"I can promise the Liverpool fans we will put out the best
possible team, without compromising the future.
"It is going to be a difficult discussion between myself and
Peter because his feeling is we shouldn't use any of them and I am
going to be tempted to say I want to use quite a few of them.
"The only players I will take will be the ones that I definitely
think will play a valuable part in the game.
"If we are talking about senior players, it would be players
prepared to start the game.
"I would not take Steven Gerrard there to play for the last 10
minutes as a substitute."
One senior player who will be available is midfielder Alberto
Aquilani, who sat out Saturday's friendly defeat to Kaiserslautern
with a knee problem.
"Peter Brukner told me he ran for the first time on Saturday so
I would expect him to be fit for Thursday," added Hodgson.