Roy Hodgson: I want to take Liverpool FC to Wembley

22 September 2010 07:00
ROY HODGSON today spoke of his burning ambition to give Liverpool’s supporters a trip to Wembley – as he revealed Dirk Kuyt is on the verge of a shock comeback.

The Reds kick-off their Carling Cup campaign against Northampton tonight and Hodgson will show how much emphasis he is placing on the tournament by naming a strong team. Milan Jovanovic, Ryan Babel, Lucas, Daniel Agger and David Ngog will all start, while there will be debuts for Danny Wilson and Brad Jones, as Hodgson aims to oversee a smooth passage into the fourth round draw.

And he will go into the game in high spirits after learning that Kuyt’s rehabilitation is ahead of schedule and could return from his shoulder injury next Thursday against his old club FC Utrecht.

Hodgson’s immediate concern, though, is dealing with Northampton and he has promised Liverpool will be going all out to secure their first venture to Wembley since 1996. It would be a great honour to lead Liverpool to Wembley, absolutely, and we will be doing our very best to get their this season, said Hodgson.

“There are only two domestic trophies that you can win every season and I would love to win one for Liverpool. “It’s been brought to my attention that we haven’t played at the new Wembley, so you can guarantee we will take this game seriously – all the players need to take responsibility. “We could end up playing between 60 and 65 games this season and though I will make changes, the players we have here will make the team I pick a strong one.

“There will be opportunities for some young lads; Danny Wilson and Dani Pacheco up to now have not featured that much but they will play. “Jay Spearing did exceptionally well last week and deserves another chance, as does Martin Kelly. This is one of the games when we have to rotate” It is the news on Kuyt today, however, that is so significant and Hodgson has tentatively pencilled in next week’s Europa League trip to Utrecht as being the game to bring him back. Kuyt damaged shoulder ligaments during the last international break and Hodgson had feared the Holland international would be out for more than a month.

But Kuyt has responded so well to treatment at Melwood that the signs are looking good for him to be included on the trip to Utrecht. “Both Dirk and Fabio Aurelio are progressing very well,” said Hodgson. “We did say that it could be between three and five weeks for Dirk but the way it is looking, it is going to be three.

“He is making good progress and I am really quite optimistic. The squad is big at the minute, so we don’t have to put pressure on them. “It would not be wise to make any bold promises but there is a very good chance he could come into the reckoning for the Europa League.”

Meanwhile, Agger has clarified comments he made to a Danish television station about Liverpool’s style under Hodgson, saying: What came out was one hundred per cent wrong and that is why I am very disappointed. I actually think we play good football

Source: Liverpool_Echo