Reds ace Torres ahead of schedule

03 September 2010 11:43
Fernando Torres' return to full fitness is ahead of schedule but Liverpool's medical staff do not expect him to reach his peak until October.[LNB] The 26-year-old has been hampered by two knee operations in the first four months of the year and an adductor injury sustained in Spain's World Cup final victory in July.[LNB]However, he scored his first Liverpool goal since April on Sunday as they beat West Brom, against whom he played 89 minutes.[LNB]And head of sports science Peter Brukner believes Torres, who is now away on international duty with Spain, will soon be back in top condition.[LNB]"He's actually slightly ahead of schedule - he played a game earlier than we thought," said Brukner, referring to the substitute appearance against Arsenal on the opening weekend of the season.[LNB]"He started off with a few minutes, then a few more minutes and then started the last couple of [Barclays Premier League] games.[LNB]"But for a kick on the shin against West Brom he would have played the whole game.[LNB]"We're now at the stage where he can play the whole game.[LNB]"He's still not at his physical peak, that will take another three or four weeks, but I think you can see in every game he's played he's improving.[LNB]"I don't think it will be too long before the old Fernando Torres is back - and I'm looking forward to that."

Source: Team_Talk