[lfc-news] Gerrard set to return ahead of schedule - Post

------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~-->
Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads. Yahoo! Companion Toolbar.
Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free!
http://us.click.yahoo.com/L5YrjA/eSIIAA/yQLSAA/2_TolB/TM
--------------------------------------------------------------------~->

Liverpool Daily Post, 29 Oct 2004
Gerrard set to return ahead of schedule
By Ian Doyle Daily Post Staff

STEVEN GERRARD will visit a specialist today hoping for the all-clear to
step up his rehabilitation from his broken foot.

The Liverpool skipper is optimistic of receiving the green light to begin
running on Monday and has targeted a comeback for the Premiership visit to
Middlesbrough on November 20.

Gerrard has been sidelined since fracturing the fifth metatarsal in his
left foot during the first half of Liverpool's 2-1 defeat at Manchester
United on September 20.

Fears the England international would be sidelined until Christmas have
been allayed by the speed of his recovery, which has been aided by the
screw he had inserted in the damaged metatarsal during a minor operation
earlier this month.

Gerrard is now on course for a return inside the originally estimated
eight-week recovery period.

And while Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez will not rush Gerrard back into
the first-team fold, if the news from the specialist is favourable the
24-year-old could yet play a part in the Anfield club's final two Champions
League group games, away at Monaco and home to Olympiakos.

Meanwhile, Milan Baros has insisted there are signs that his strike pairing
with Djibril Cisse can yet flourish at Anfield.

The duo have failed to sparkle up front while in tandem so far this season,
with Benitez being linked with a move for a striker when the transfer
window reopens in January.

But Baros has revealed both he and Cisse are striving hard to discover ways
of improving their partnership on the field.

"We are working on the partnership every day in training," said the Czech
striker. "And every day it's getting better.

"We know it's not as good as it could be at the moment but I'm confident
we'll come good.

"It's normal that two players who have never played together before will
take time to get used to a partnership.

"Strikers are always judged by the amount of goals they score and I'm
hopeful that the two of us can score enough over the season to take us up
to a position with the top clubs."

Liverpool's hopes of acquiring striking reinforcements in the New Year
received a double setback yesterday.

Real Madrid have said they will not consider brokering any deals either in
or out of the Bernabeu during the forthcoming winter transfer window,
seemingly dashing any prospect of Fernando Morientes moving to Anfield.

"We never made any business during the winter transfer window last time,"
said Madrid president Florentino Perez.

"And it will be the case this year too for either Morientes or anyone else.

"It is not our policy. This team will go until the end of the season and
get titles."

Liverpool have also been warned they will face a fight for the signature of
Valencia forward Miguel Mista.

"I am aware Liverpool have been linked with my striker Mista," said
Valencia coach Claudio Ranieri. "But a number of clubs from around Europe
are looking at him."


Unsubscribe: lfc-news-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
http://www.lfc-list.org.uk/

Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lfc-news/

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
lfc-news-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/