Source: Team_Talk
Kuyt targeting Utrecht return
Dirk Kuyt hopes to have recovered from his shoulder injury in time to make an emotional return to Utrecht at the end of September.[LNB] The Dutchman recently ruptured ligaments when attempting a bicycle kick in training while on international duty and it was predicted the Liverpool forward would be sidelined for four weeks.[LNB]That timescale would mean that Kuyt would miss matches against Birmingham, Steaua Bucharest, Manchester United, Northampton, Sunderland and former club Utrecht.[LNB]However, the 30-year-old is optimistic that he could make the trip to Holland on September 30 and face the side where he started his professional career in 1998 with a five-year spell.[LNB]"I hope I will make it (for Utrecht) but it all depends on how the injury heals in the first few days," Kuyt said in the Daily Express.[LNB]"I have made a thousand of these moves before without any problems."[LNB]Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson, though, fears it could be a different story. He told www.liverpoolfc.tv: "It could be more than four weeks. It's one of those injuries where it's very difficult for the doctor to say and I think four weeks is a very conservative estimate.[LNB]"If we're lucky, it could be earlier, but it could be longer. We have to be very careful because it's the type of injury that has to be treated with a lot of respect.[LNB]"It's a great blow for us because Dirk is an important member of our first team. He does a job which is not easy to replace because he has all the qualities required for that role on the field.[LNB]"I was very sad to see such a thing happen, especially in a training session.[LNB]"He's a quick mender and he has a great mentality and attitude towards recovery, so he will be back as quick as is humanly possible."[LNB]Kuyt's injury was in danger of leaving Liverpool short up front, with David Ngog also struggling with a hamstring injury.[LNB]The 21-year-old, who already has four goals to his name this season, was withdrawn from France Under-21s duty but Hodgson is hopeful he will be available for Sunday's trip to Birmingham.[LNB]"He has been nursing a problem but is much better now," said the Liverpool boss. "I am hoping that he will recover in time for this weekend. We have nursed him through and hopefully he will train either today or Friday."[LNB]Fabio Aurelio, though, remains on the sidelines with an Achilles problem.[LNB]Hodgson added: "Fabio is making very good progress and is definitely moving in the right direction. It was a relatively minor problem but one we had to nip in the bud because Achilles injuries can be very problematic."
