[lfc-news] Nunez's return is tonic for Benitez - 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, 26 Nov 2004
Nunez's return is tonic for Benitez
By David Prior, Daily Post Staff

ANTONIO NUNEZ'S long wait for his Liverpool debut could yet come to an end
against champions Arsenal on Sunday after he emerged unscathed from a
reserve match last night.

Manager Rafael Benitez was hoping to save the Spaniard, who suffered a knee
injury within hours of signing for the Anfield club in August, for another
couple of weeks.

But given the dire injury situation at Anfield, together with Nunez's
impressive 61-minute performance against Leeds United last night, the
25-year-old could be handed a surprise place on the bench against Arsene
Wenger's men.

The midfielder penned a three-year deal when he moved to Merseyside as part
of the Michael Owen transfer, although Benitez was intent on signing the
player in any case.

His time at the club has so far been a nightmare, however, having suffered
a partial tear of a medial ligament during his very first training session.

Nunez's hopes of an appearance for the reserves back in September were then
thwarted with the discovery that he required further surgery, which ruled
him out for a further six weeks.

Luis Garcia's hamstring injury in Monaco this week have further limited
Benitez's options in mid-field, and he may now be forced to employ Nunez at
least on the bench.

Xabi Alonso, who started on the bench in Monaco, is likely to come back
into the starting line-up against the Gunners and yesterday he urged
Liverpool to forget about their ill-fortune with injuries and concentrate
instead on getting a result.

Tuesday night's 1-0 defeat in the Champions League Group A clash added
Djimi Traore to a treatment room already full of first-team regulars
including Garcia, Djibril Cisse, Milan Baros and Vladimir Smicer.

And while Alonso admits the injury crisis is delibiltating, he claims that
Liverpool still have enough quality players at the club.

"It's a pity we have so many injuries but the players we do have will be
ready for this game," he said.

"We can't say this is a bad time to play Arsenal. We have to be strong and
just think about the game."

As to his own chances of a start, Alonso added: "It's up the manager who
plays and I accept that. I just want to make sure I'm ready for Sunday's game."

Meanwhile Thierry Henry is doubtful for this weekend's trip to Anfield
after receiving two painful kicks on an already troublesome Achilles injury
at PSV Eindhoven

- he only recently admitted that he was playing at just 70% capacity due to
the problem.

Henry was walking gingerly as he left the ground on Wednesday night and was
scheduled to rest and undergo intensive treatment over the next couple of days.

"It's always the same. When you're in pain somewhere, you always get a
knock on it," Henry reflected..

"In the first 10 minutes, Alex kicked me on my Achilles by accident.

"I was struggling a bit with that and then there was a challenge by Andre
Ooijer around the 30th minute when he kicked me too.

"I was just trying to do my best and I just kept on trying to run."


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/