Benitez set to finally welcome back Kewell
Harry Kewell is expected to return to full training at Liverpool
next week.
The Australia midfielder has not kicked a ball for the Anfield club
this season after picking up a groin injury while playing for his
country in the Asian Cup in the summer.
It was the latest in a series of injury setbacks for the former
Leeds player, but manager Rafael Benitez is now hoping Kewell can
prove his fitness and press for a place in the first team
squad.
Benitez told liverpoolfc.tv: 'Harry has been working really hard
with the physios and next week he could be training or running with
the rest of the first team.
'Harry is very important for us. A player with pace and ability who
can score goals is always going to be important.'
This could well be the last chance Kewell gets to extend his stay
at Liverpool. Several teams were interested in his services during
the summer, but Benitez wanted to give the former Leeds winger
every chance to prove his value to the club.
But if Kewell fails to establish himself in the squad this time, he
is likely to be surplus to requirements at the end of the
season.
Despite heavy spending on bringing new wide midfielders to the club
in Ryan Babel and Yossi Benayoun, Benitez insists Kewell still has
a role to play at Anfield.
He said: 'It's clear he's someone with great quality and experience
and we need these kind of players for the rest of the
season.'
Meanwhile, Benitez is keeping his fingers crossed that Fernando
Torres does not aggravate an ankle injury when he plays for Spain
this weekend.
The Liverpool striker was restricted to just a light training
session with his international team-mates earlier in the week, but
he is expected to figure in Spain's crucial clash with Denmark on
Saturday.
Benitez, who wants the player fit for his first Mersey derby at
Everton on Saturday week, added: 'It is a risk but I know he wants
to play because they have such an important game for
Spain.'
