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Dalglish: Doctors saved Gerrard’s career

Comment: 0 December 19th, 2011 by: admin

LIVERPOOL manager Kenny Dalglish revealed that skipper Steven Gerrard’s career had been saved from disintegration by the medical staff who responded quickly to his ankle infection.

Gerrard, who had been sidelined since October due to the injury, has continuously been subjected to ongoing ailments – specifically a groin injury – that have greatly hampered his involvement the past year.

Dalglish admitted that the news of the Reds captain’s ankle disorder caused him great concern regarding Gerrard’s career in football.  However, the manager said that Gerrard’s condition would have been worse had it not been for the speedy treatment.

‘If it hadn’t been dealt with quickly and properly it could have ended up more serious,’ Dalglish revealed to People.

‘The credit goes to our medical people who identified it and reacted.  It was unknown territory for us.’

According to reports, the latest findings have suggested that Gerrard could be on his way to rejoining his team on the field.

‘It’s getting easier for him now,’ Dalglish informed.  ‘The hard part is when you are first injured.

‘When you consider what he has been through he has done unbelievably well.  But he has a strong character and that is reflected in coming through what he’s been through.’

The manager furthered, saying that the skipper had been yearning to get back into action and help his squad for the rest of the season.

‘He is desperate to play, but we need to manage it properly,’ Dalglish explained.  ‘The closer you get to coming back the more excited you are and Steven is feeling that way.  We’ll probably have to calm him down a wee bit when he gets close to full fitness.’

The Reds manager explained that despite Gerrard’s eagerness to contribute, the current strategy remains easing him back in slowly and carefully.

‘It’s fantastic for him that he’s doing so well in recover.  It’s more important for Steven that the progress has been fantastic rather than for ourselves because the boy has had a lot of setbacks.

‘That’s why we won’t put him under any pressure and give him any deadline.’

Gerrard’s string of injuries began at a time when he was the one catalyst for the team’s competitiveness, and their source for energy and spirit.  Since his absence, Dalglish has gone into action to re-establish the team’s tactics, leaving behind the one-man-show style.

This, along with Gerrard’s ailments, has put the captain’s effectiveness into question.

‘What do they say?’ Dalglish asked.  ‘Form is temporary but class is permanent.  Well, we’ll go for the class bit with Steven.  We have always said with him fit we have a much stronger squad and the other players will be better off.’

He continued to say that despite any improvements that have possibly developed with his new system, the squad overall is more competitive with Gerrard in the lineup.

Liverpool are currently 6^th in the EPL table, following an easy 2-0 win on the road against Aston Villa over the weekend.

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