Source: Daily_Mail
Steven Gerrard on course for Liverpool return at Newcastle
Steven Gerrard is on track to ease the burden of Jamie Carragher's three-month absence by returning to action at Newcastle on Saturday week.[LNB]Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson suffered the huge blow of losing Carragher until March yesterday when it was agreed that surgery was the only way to repair his dislocated left shoulder. But there was some respite for Hodgson when it emerged that Gerrard has started light jogging at the club's Melwood training base.[LNB]Gerrard tore his hamstring during England's 2-1 defeat to France last month but his rehabilitation has gone smoothly and he should make his comeback in the Barclays Premier League game at St James' Park on December 11. [LNB] [LNB]Missing: Liverpool must do without Carragher for around three months[LNB]'Steven's going well,' said Dr Peter Brukner, Liverpool's head ofsports science. 'He's back running, though not back in training.Everything's gone to plan. He's certainly looking good to play in theNewcastle game, which has been our target all along. We're hoping he'llbe back in training at the start of next week.'[LNB]It will be a while before the same can be said of Carragher. He willbe operated on this Friday and is facing his longest absence since hemissed 23 games after breaking his leg in September 2003. [LNB]Good news: Steven Gerrard should return on time from the hamstring injury he suffered with England[LNB]The 32-year-old is 'deeply disappointed' at the news, havinginitially hoped his rehabilitation would last no more than six weeks,which would have enabled him to play in the FA Cup third-round tieagainst Manchester United.[LNB]Now Hodgson will have to find a central defender in January. In themeantime, he will assess the prospect of bringing Daniel Ayala backfrom his loan at Hull City. [LNB]'I've got to make sure it's right,' said a brave Carragher. 'It'sdifficult for me when I'm injured. It hasn't happened very often butmaybe it's caught up with me a little bit now. [LNB]'It's not easy but you've got to get on with it. I'm sure towardsthe end of the season when people are maybe feeling a little bit tiredI'll be raring to go.'[LNB]The last time there was no Gerrard or Carragher in a LiverpoolPremier League squad was September 1, 2007, but they will not be theonly high-profile absentees from the group that flies to Romania today.[LNB]Fernando Torres, Raul Meireles and Dirk Kuyt will all miss theEuropa League game against Steaua Bucharest and Hodgson's startingline-up will have 10 changes from the one that was beaten 2-1 at WhiteHart Lane last Sunday. [LNB]But Hodgson, who will give the captaincy to Pepe Reina or SotiriosKyrgiakos, is confident the team he puts out will be good enough to getthe point Liverpool need to progress to the knockout stages. [LNB]Cole's goal: Liverpool's Joe will return to the side in Europe[LNB]'I can leave maybe as many as six or seven players who I expect tostart against Aston Villa (next Monday) out of the team,' said Hodgson,who will have Joe Cole available for the first time since October 31. [LNB]'On paper I'm taking a weakened team, but I believe people like JoeCole, Ryan Babel, Milan Jovanovic, Danny Wilson, Christian Poulsen andJonjo Shelvey are more than capable of doing a good job.' [LNB]Meanwhile, Liverpool's deposed owners Tom Hicks and George Gillettwant to head back to court to discharge an anti-suit injunction so theycan bid for damages following the club's sale to New England SportsVentures.[LNB] Carragher reveals frustration as op rules defender out for three monthsJuventus keen on Babel as Sevilla eye swoop for Brazilian midfielder LucasPaul Konchesky holds his hands up for Liverpool's loss at SpursLIVERPOOL FC
