Source: Daily_Mail
Roy Hodgson tells Dirk Kuyt to treat his achilles injury with respect before returning to Liverpool
Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt is hopeful of being fit for the Reds' Europa League trip to his former club Utrecht at the end of this month.[LNB]The 30-year-old injured his shoulder during training with the Dutch national team this week and was yesterday ruled out for four weeks by club doctor Peter Brukner.[LNB]That would mean Kuyt missing the trip to the Stadion Galgenwaard, where he spent five years between 1998 and 2003, on September 30 as well as matches against Birmingham, Steaua Bucharest, Manchester United, Northampton and Sunderland.But the striker remains optimistic he will be fit for the match in Holland.[LNB]'I hope I will make it (for Utrecht) but it all depends on how theinjury heals in the first few days,' Kuyt said on www.liverpoolfc.tv.[LNB] Fingers crossed: Dirk Kuyt is hopeful of making Liverpool's clash against Utrecht[LNB]Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson, though, fears it could be a different story.[LNB]He said: 'It could be more than four weeks. It's one of thoseinjuries where it's very difficult for the doctor to say and I thinkfour weeks is a very conservative estimate.[LNB]'If we're lucky, it could be earlier, but it could be longer. Wehave to be very careful because it's the type of injury that has to betreated with a lot of respect.[LNB]'It's a great blow for us because Dirk is an important member of ourfirst team. He does a job which is not easy to replace because he hasall 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] Worry: Roy Hodgson is fearing the worst[LNB][LNB]'He's a quick mender and he has a great mentality and attitudetowards 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also struggling with a hamstring injury.[LNB]The 21-year-old, who already has four goals to his name this season,was withdrawn from France Under-21s duty but Hodgson is hopeful he willbe available for Sunday's trip to Birmingham.[LNB]'He has been nursing a problem but is much better now,' said theLiverpool boss. 'I am hoping that he will recover in time for thisweekend. We have nursed him through and hopefully he will train eithertoday 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 definitelymoving in the right direction. It was a relatively minor problem butone we had to nip in the bud because achilles injuries can be veryproblematic.'[LNB] Crocked Kuyt desperate to be fit for emotional return to UtrechtForward-thinking Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson puts Daniel Pachedo on red alertLIVERPOOL FC
