Kirkland: "Money not important" - Echo

Liverpool Echo, 8 Sept 2004
'Money not important, I just want an injury free run'
By David Prentice, Liverpool Echo

CHRIS KIRKLAND would play for Liverpool for nothing, if he could guarantee
a long run free from injury.

The Reds keeper has targeted next week's Champions League match against
Monaco for his latest comeback.

But while that match comes in Europe's richest club competition, the young
keeper admits money is the furthest thing from his mind at present.

And he says he would give up everything just to be able to pull on a
Liverpool shirt regularly.

"I can't express how frustrating it is," he said. "People say to me 'What
would you do to be able to play, injury free? If somebody could promise you
a long run in the side, what would you do?'

"I tell them I would do anything. And when they say would you give up your
wages to play? I say 'Yes, I would.' And I genuinely mean that.

"If somebody could promise me I would be injury free and just able to play
football I would do that.

"Everybody knows footballers are paid extremely handsomely, but I can
honestly say it's not about money for me. "It's about playing. The buzz of
playing. My dad's got a picture of me in his wallet when I was about eight
years old in a Liverpool kit and if you love something that much you would
do anything for it, and I would.

"I just want people to know how much it hurts and frustrates me because
people do come up to me sometimes and say 'you're injured all the time and
you don't care.'

"But I'm doing everything I can and there is nobody more upset and
frustrated than me. I have been downa lot and I can't understand why it
keeps happening. I must have done something in a previous life!"

The back strain which has sidelined Kirkland for the past fortnight is a
minor one, compared to the traumatic knee injury and the less serious wrist
problem he has been forced to endure in the past 18 months.

It has been a harsh learning curve for the youngster to deal with, but he
has found friends and allies both inside and outside Anfield.

"When I was at Coventry I never had problems," he said. "Where I think it's
come from is I've had a big growth spurt and my body is taking time to adjust.

"Steven Gerrard had similar problems when he was younger and he has had
some really helpful chats with me.

"He's been a good friend and has told me everything I'm feeling, he has
been through.

"I also got a letter out of the blue from Alan Shearer when I had my knee
injury, and he told me he had had 14 operations.

"That was a massive boost. It really spurred me on."

Ironically, Kirkland was fit and available for the start of the new
Premiership campaign and it took many observers by surprise when new coach
Rafael Benitez opted to go for Jerzy Dudek.

Not least, Chris Kirkland. "A lot of nice stuff has been written about my
potential, but I have to do it," he said.

"I was gutted not to be chosen for the first match of the season, but he's
the manager, I respect his decision and what he says goes.

"I just can't wait to get back playing. You miss it so much when you have
to watch the lads train.

"I don't go to games any more because I've watched more games than I've
played in and it's so frustrating knowing you could be out there. So I'm
staying away and hopefully next Wednesday I'll be involved."

The next obstacle then is dislodging Dudek, but Kirkland remains focused
and refreshingly sanguine.

"I just have to keep sight of the fact that I will be back, I will be fit
and I will geta long, injury-free run," he said.

By the law of averages alone, he deserves one.