Kenny Dalglish: Liverpool won’t gamble on Steven Gerrard’s fitness against West Brom

BPL, Blackpool and Liverpool, Kenny Dalglish (Getty Images)

Related Links

Teams

Players

Kenny Dalglish is adamant he will not rush skipper Steven Gerrard back into the Liverpool line-up for Saturday’s trip to West Brom.

Gerrard was forced out of both of England’s recent international fixtures with a groin surgery, and missed the Reds’ 2-0 victory at Sunderland, but despite recovering quicker than expected, his manager is refusing to take any risks with their talisman ahead of the trip to face old boss Roy Hodgson at the Hawthorns.

“We’ll have a look,” Dalglish told reporters. “He’s Gerrard recovered really well from the surgery he had so we’ll see how he is before we decide whether he’s in or out. He’s certainly done a lot of training this week – not all the training the other lads have done, but a lot of it.

“But two weekends ago at Sunderland wee Jay Spearing played really well. There is no need for us to be in a rush to bring Steven back.”

In addition to the potential return of his captain, Dalglish was also buoyed by the success of £35 million man Andy Carroll whilst on international duty, insisting the opening strike at Wembley, Carroll’s first for England, was a great boost for his confidence according to the Scot.

“It’s a great milestone for Andy to score his first goal, especially at Wembley,” Dalglish added.

“It’s a great reward for him as well after his recuperation. It will give him a lift, kick him on further and it’s a great reflection of how he’s got on with his work and how our medical team has worked to get him there.

“Andy will have been quite happy yesterday morning when he woke up.

Dalglish again implied a cautionary logic regarding the fitness of 22-year-old Carroll, insisting the club would be patient with the return of the former Newcastle man.

“He’s got a wee bit to go before getting up to match fitness but he came in here for five-and-a-half years, not two months,” added Dalglish.

“The 60 minutes he got for England was very helpful in his recuperation and his fight to get back to full fitness.”

The Anfield boss also moved to herald the understanding shown by Fabio Capello and his England staff in not over-stretching players with fitness issues during the 1-1 draw with Ghana.

He added: “The way England treated our players was fantastic: the way they gave Andy the hour because they knew it wouldn’t be beneficial to play him longer, and the way they gave Glen Johnson 45 minutes because he had a slight problem with his Achilles.

“They were very professional and respectful with the way they treated both of our players.”