Source: Liverpool_Echo
New signing Milan Jovanovic hands Liverpool FC Europa League boost
Milan Jovanovic 300MILAN JOVANOVIC said it will be 'an honour' to play for Liverpool as he handed the club a Europa League boost.The Serbia international has joined the Reds on a three-year deal and will add another dimension to manager Roy Hodgson's attacking options next season.More pressing though is the first leg of Liverpool's Europa League third round qualifier in less than three weeks.With Fernando Torres still in South Africa ahead of Sunday's World Cup final, the Spain striker will not be available for the game on July 29. Expected to take a three week break following his exertions in South Africa, Torres is also a major doubt for the second leg a week later.David Ngog was the only other senior striker at the club prior to Jovanovic's arrival yesterday.The former Standard Liege man can play on the left wing or as a striker and could spearhead Liverpool's attack in Europe later this month.'It is an honour for me to sign for one of the biggest clubs in football,' said Jovanovic.'I cannot wait to start working with the manager and I'm looking forward to joining up with my new team-mates on our Swiss training camp.'The 29-year-old has had a short break after playing for Serbia at the World Cup where he scored the winning goal in a 1-0 win over Germany in Group D.He has now returned to his homeland and will link up with Hodgson and the Liverpool squad in Switzerland next week.Although it was Rafael Benitez who set the wheels in motion on a move for Jovanovic, he becomes the first player to join Liverpool during Hodgson's tenure and is seen as a replacement for Yossi Benayoun who joined Chelsea last week.A Belgian Footballer of the Year in the 2007/08 season and 2009 Golden Shoe winner, Jovanovic joins Liverpool on a free transfer after his contract expired on July 1 following four seasons with Liege.His nickname is 'the snake' due to his pace and dribbling ability and he is known to have previously attracted the interest of Juventus and Real Madrid among others.Meanwhile, Dirk Kuyt has revealed he wants to stay at Liverpool.There has been talk of the Dutchman being reunited with former boss Benitez at Inter Milan but Kuyt says he is happy on Merseyside.