I want to play! Spain striker Torres set to anger Liverpool boss Benitez

01 March 2010 16:12
[LNB] Back to fitness: Fernando Torres[LNB]Fernando Torres is keen for as much international playing time as possibledespite Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez's concerns over his injured striker whohas recently returned from a lengthy lay-off. [LNB]Benitez will be hopeful Torres returns from Spain duty without picking up anynew knocks in the European champions' friendly against France on Wednesday. [LNB]Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque has denied falling out with the Liverpool bossafter naming Torres in his squad and insists he will monitor the amount of timethe forward is on the pitch. [LNB]But Torres claims Benitez's worries are of little concern to him. [LNB]'Rafa has enough to deal with with what he's got,' he told reporters as hearrived at Spain's training camp. [LNB]'It's normal that he's thinking about his interests but he knows that all theplayers want to go to the national team. [LNB]'For us it is an honour to be here, to play as much as possible and to returnas fit as possible to our teams. [LNB]Watchful: Benitez is desperate to protect Torres[LNB]'Luckily I recovered in time. To be in the national squad is a prize for me. I have the good fortune that the coach called me up after playing just twogames since I recovered.'[LNB]Torres marked his first start since January 13 with the winning goal in thebruising 2-1 victory over Blackburn at Anfield yesterday.The 25-year-old has now scored 13 goals in 17 Barclays Premier Leagueappearances and despite having missed nearly six weeks after a knee operation heis still the club's top scorer. [LNB]Torres will be hoping to replicate that form on Wednesday against France, withLa Roja wanting to avenge their 3-1 defeat at the hands of Les Bleus which sawthem knocked out of the last World Cup. [LNB]'I'm tired after playing nearly 90 minutes after two months of not doing so,'he said. [LNB]'But I'm ready for as much as the coach thinks is right. These games are always special for Spain. [LNB]'We can't wait to play against them,especially after they knocked us out of the last World Cup. We always have it in for them.'[LNB]  Carragher praying 'special striker' Torres comes through unscathed for SpainLiverpool 2 Blackburn 1: Rafa Benitez bites back in spat with rival Allardyce England face fight to hold on to Fabio as Juventus line up summer move for boss  Explore more:People:Rafa Benitez, FERNANDO TORRES, Rafael BenitezPlaces:Liverpool, Spain, France

Source: Daily_Mail