Warnock pressing for European role - Post

Liverpool Daily Post, 27 Sept 2004
Warnock pressing for European role
By Ian Doyle, Daily Post

RAFAEL BENITEZ admitted Stephen Warnock has handed him a welcome selection
problem ahead of tomorrow's Champions League encounter against Olympiakos.

Warnock was an impressive performer on his full Anfield debut on Saturday
as Liverpool brushed aside Norwich City 3-0.

Milan Baros put the home side on their way on 23 minutes before Luis Garcia
netted a deflected second three minutes later and Djibril Cisse notched his
first home Premiership goal on 64 minutes.

But it was the display of Warnock which left manager Benitez most pleased
after the youngster stepped in on the left wing for the injured Harry Kewell.

The Australian is expected to be available for tomorrow's Group A match in
Greece but Benitez has hinted he may not automatically return to the
starting line-up following Warnock's fine performance.

"Stephen has a good temperament and showed that on Saturday," said the
Spaniard.. "He was not bothered by the atmosphere.

"In my opinion it is important that he understands that if he has a bad
game, then it's my problem. If he plays well, then there isn't a problem.
There isn't any pressure on him.

"We have a squad here and we will play many games this season, so he will
have more chances to play in the first team.

"Sometimes with younger players you see they don't have the confidence
early on, and you think that maybe they need a little more time. But with
Stephen I don't think that is a problem. As long as he plays well, everyone
will be happy."

Benitez, who expects Xabi Alonso to be fit after the midfielder was
substituted as a precaution on Saturday after complaining of tightness in
his leg muscles, added: "It is important that young players come through
because it shows to the local players that the only thing they have to do
is play well and they will get their chance.

"I watched Stephen closely during pre-season and we decided we wanted him
to stay because he trained well and played well in the pre-season."

Warnock revealed he was "living the dream" after starting a home game for
the first time on Saturday.

The 22-year-old admitted he thought his time at Liverpool was over when he
was sent on loan to Coventry City last season.

But after returning with a clutch of Player of the Year awards from
supporters at Highfield Road, Warnock has impressed new manager Benitez
sufficiently enough to be given first-team opportunities this season.

"When it was clear Harry was injured I knew I had a chance and that I had
to take it," said the midfielder.. "I thought I played better than I have
in my previous games.

"To be honest, I thought I would have to stay at Coventry, but when the
chance has come to play for the first team, I knew that I had to take it.

"Just to even get a chance at Liverpool means I am living the dream.

"Coventry was do or die for me. I had to prove myself there or forget about
a future at Liverpool, but I did well there and I knew if I did that, then
I would be able to come back here and have a chance.

"At one point, it did not look as though I would come back here. Liverpool
had planned to talk to me later on after the season had finished but I was
not aware of that at the time.

"It was Gerard Houllier who offered me a new contract to stay. I went away
on holiday having not signed the contract and to have a think about it when
he was then sacked.

"However, the new manager then came in and said he wanted to keep me, which
was a bonus."

Warnock's progress was halted by two broken legs when he was at the
Academy. The first came while he was playing for the under-17s, with the
second break happening on his first game back for the U19s.

"I have to pinch myself when I think of where I am," he added. "When I
broke my leg the second time, I thought about packing it all in. But the
people at the Academy and my friends and family kept egging me on and they
helped me a lot during my recovery.

"It took two years to get back into the game properly and I was not fit
enough to make an impact here last season.

"It drives you on when you get an injury like that. It was all about
proving I could do it and proving I could come back from it."