Rafa Benitez has rubbished reports that Fernando Torres
will be out until the New Year, claiming the Spanish sensation
could even be fit to face Arsenal.
Torres was originally pencilled in for a three-week absence,
which meant he would be fit three days before Liverpool’s trip to
The Gunners on December 21.
However, fears grew this week that the former Atletico hotshot
would be out until the New Year due his hamstring problem – fears
Benitez has now rubbished.
The Liverpool boss confirmed on Friday that Torres is bang on
target for his initial return date and, if anything, he could be
back before.
"Fernando is progressing and improving so hopefully he will be
back sooner rather than later," Benitez told Liverpool’s official
website.
"It's just a question of waiting and not pressuring the player.
I was with him today and he was okay. He has a lot of confidence
now, and when you have confidence, you can be fitter sooner.
"The injury was a relapse of the one he had before. The
specialist has known Torres for a long time and he also has a good
relationship with our physios who are working hard with him.
"We are really pleased because we know the problem and now we
can find a solution. We know we have to work hard on it and I think
he'll be okay.
"Everything is going well and I think it will be more or less
the time we said before - maybe less."