JULY 26
Hodgson ponders
Gerrard inclusion
BBC Sport Online
Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson says he may use
some senior players earlier than his medical team are
advising.
The Reds travel to Macedonia to take on Rabotnicki Skopje in
the Europa League third qualifying round on Thursday.
And Hodgson could opt to start with the likes of captain
Steven Gerrard and new signing Joe Cole having planned to
rest those involved in the 2010 World Cup.
"I don't know what to do at this stage," said new boss
Hodgson, who is to make his decision on Tuesday.
Former Fulham manager Hodgson, 62, will consult with head of
sports science Peter Brukner as he looks to name his first
side for a competitive fixture since succeeding Rafael
Benitez in the Anfield hot seat at the start of July.
Hodgson had wanted to give more recovery time to Gerrard and
Cole, along with their England team-mates Jamie Carragher
and Glen Johnson, who have all been back in pre-season
training for a week, having been in South Africa for the
World Cup finals.
But, with the Merseysiders desperate to ensure qualification
for the group stages of Europe's second-tier club
competition, the Reds boss is considering selecting a more
experienced side than originally planned.
"I will have to liaise with them [the medical team] and
Peter Brukner and make a decision by Tuesday on what sort of
team I can put out," added Hodgson.
"It is going to be a difficult discussion between myself and
Peter because his feeling is we shouldn't use any of them,
and I am going to be tempted to say I want to use quite a
few of them.
"The only players I will take will be the ones that I
definitely think will play a valuable part in the game.
"If we are talking about senior players, it would be players
prepared to start the game. I would not take Steven Gerrard
there to play for the last 10 minutes as a substitute."
Midfielder Alberto Aquilani is expected to be fit and
available, despite missing Saturday's 1-0 defeat by
Kaiserslautern with a knee problem.
Meanwhile, Liverpool's two Argentina internationals Javier
Mascherano and Maxi Rodriguez have returned to pre-season
training after their post-World Cup holiday.
Hodgson is keen to talk to Mascherano about his future after
failing to establish contact with the player amid rumours
linking him with a move to European champions Inter Milan -
now managed by Benitez.
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