Liverpool FC Forum

by **Leonmc0708** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 2:10 pm

By Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo

LIVERPOOL are on course for a treble injury boost as Fernando Morientes, Neil Mellor and Harry Kewell edge closer to fitness.

Morientes hasn't been ruled out of a return to the squad for this weekend's trip to Birmingham after recovering from hamstring trouble, while Kewell has a reserve game against Leeds on September 27 in his sights.

Youngster Mellor hasn't started a match since the Carling Cup semi-final first leg last January but expects to return to training in the next fortnight.

With the trio preparing for a comeback, Rafa Benitez could soon have a fully fit squad to choose from for the first time since he arrived at Anfield.

Having scored five goals in 11 starts last season, Mellor's goalscoring ratio was the best at the club before undergoing a delayed operation on both knees to cure tendinitis.

But now he's ready to step up his bid to offer a solution to the current goal drought in the Premiership.

"I hope to be back in training within two weeks," confirmed the youngster today.

"After that, I'm hoping I'll be playing again by the end of October or start of November. There's a reserve game against Manchester City on November 1 and that's the one I'm looking at.

"It's been a frustrating period for me. When I had the operation I was originally hoping to be fit for pre-season, but it's taken a lot longer to heal than I thought.

"There have been times when it's been difficult and I felt gutted to be out so long.

"Now I feel great and there's no pain at all so I'm really looking forward to playing again.

"I hope I can get back to scoring goals and hopefully get a chance to show the boss what I can do."

Intresting, Nando will surely freshen it up a little in attack, I think he would be best suited of all our strikers on the books to ploughing the lone furrow, young Neil will at least give us a further option, and surely it is now time for Harry Kewell to stand up and be counted.

by **Ciggy** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 2:14 pm

Mellor has put about 2 stone on though, its going to take a few months for him to get rid of that, Morientes back will leave Cisse 3rd in the pecking order so we can expect more 10 minutes appearences of him, he wont be a very happy man

.
I am really looking forward to Kewell playing, now he has all his injuries sorted out, I hope we see the Leeds Harry Kewell we sure could do with him, and I hope he doesnt dissapoint everyone this time round.

by **woof woof !** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 2:16 pm

Not so sure about Morientes Leon . He's proving to be a major disappointment . Not trying to start a lets moan about the players discussion but the poor form of Morientes and Cisse is doing my head in . We know what they're capable of ,christ what a team we'd have if only they could start to produce .

As for Kewell . :laugh:

by **babu** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 2:22 pm

is it really true that this is (will be... touch wood) the first time Rafa has had a fully fit squad to choose from?

If so, how does this compare with other teams in the top 10? I mean how often do they have everyone fit at the same time? was just wondering....

by **Ciggy** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 2:24 pm

babu wrote:is it really true that this is (will be... touch wood) the first time Rafa has had a fully fit squad to choose from?

If so, how does this compare with other teams in the top 10? I mean how often do they have everyone fit at the same time? was just wondering....

SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH babu dont put the jinx on us :angry:

They arnt back yet :;):

by **7_Kewell** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 2:25 pm

woohoo, we've saved.......Mellor is back from injury

Morientes and Kewell both have to prove themselves now and if they do, they can change our season, if they don't they will both be out next summer.

by **NiftyNeil** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 2:34 pm

I'd love to see Mellor upfront with Crouch. The lad isn't blessed with pace, but he has a deadly eye for goal and he could feast on Crouchies knockdowns and linkup play.

by **Paul C** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 2:36 pm

Mellor is fat and wastes too many chances.

by **wrighty (not mark!)** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 2:41 pm

I rate Mellor very much so. ARSEnal and Olympiakos spring to mind when it comes to turning up on the big occasion. His scoring record in the reserves is second to none and his ratio in the first XI last season wasn't bad either even if it was only a few appearances. I don't know so much about him and Crouch up front together, but could link up well with someone with a bit more pace. Cisse perhaps?

by **drummerphil** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 2:47 pm

Lets just wait and see before any judgements are made Harry "i was world class at leeds" Kewell and Fernando "Wasnt i great at Real Madrid and Monaco" morientes........just might finally surprise us.

by **AlanHansen** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 3:18 pm

NiftyNeil wrote:I'd love to see Mellor upfront with Crouch. The lad isn't blessed with pace, but he has a deadly eye for goal and he could feast on Crouchies knockdowns and linkup play.

I think Morientes would link up with him even better. And we could definitly do with kewell in the final third of the pitch.

by **Leonmc0708** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 3:22 pm

Paul C wrote:Mellor is fat and wastes too many chances.

He speaks very highly of you too Paul C !!

by **Red Rafa Revolution** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 3:23 pm

good to see all 3 of them back. would give us "possibilities". if they don't perform, had a feeling rafa is going to ship them out come end of this season.

by **stmichael** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 3:25 pm

NiftyNeil wrote:I'd love to see Mellor upfront with Crouch.

jesus could you imagine that.

one striker who's seven feet tall and one who's seven feet wide.

by **Paul C** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 3:26 pm

wrighty (not mark!) wrote:I rate Mellor very much so. ARSEnal and Olympiakos spring to mind when it comes to turning up on the big occasion.

Their the only two times he's done anything, the lad has been knocking on the door for about 3/4 years now but he isn't good enough and certainly wouldn't fit into the system we are playing at the moment.

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