'GERRARD CAN'T BE REPLACED'.Byline: by TONY BARRETT Liverpool Reporter FERNANDO TORRES Fernando José Torres Sanz (born March 20, 1984) is a Spanish football player currently playing for Liverpool. He was born in Fuenlabrada, a large suburban town south of Madrid and was the youngest player to play for Atlético Madrid and the youngest to become captain (at age 19). has described Steven Gerrard Steven George Gerrard MBE (IPA: ['stiːvn 'dʒɛɹɑːd]) (born 30 May, 1980, Whiston, Merseyside) is an English football player. He is the captain of Liverpool, where he wears the number 8 shirt. as "irreplaceable" as Liverpool's captain prepares to make his comeback from injury. Gerrard has been out of action since suffering a slight hamstring tear in the FA Cup fourth round replay against Everton on February 4. The initial prognosis was that the Reds skipper was facing up to three weeks on the sidelines On the sidelines An investor who decides not to invest due to market uncertainty. on the sidelines Of or relating to investors who, having assessed the market, have decided to avoid committing their funds. and although he returned to training at the end of last week that prediction is likely to prove accurate with the Champions League tie at Real Madrid on February 25 being Gerrard's most likely return date. But should the 28-year-old midfielder suffer no ill effects in training this week there is an outside chance that he could even be involved when the Reds take on Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday. Having forged a hugely profitable partnership with Gerrard since moving to Anfield, Torres cannot wait to see his sidekick back in full flight and is hoping it will be sooner rather than later. "The news was that he would be out for three weeks, but we hope that he'll be back playing again sooner," said Torres. "But you never know how things can turn out with a hamstring injury hamstring injury Sports medicine A muscle injury of biceps femoris, seen in sprinters and runners, when a contracted muscle meets a lengthening force, overpowering intrinsic muscle resiliency Management RICE, NSAIDs, gradual ↑ of pain-free activity–eg, - and I speak from experience. "It was a good sign that he asked to be substituted as soon as he felt the twinge twinge n. A sharp, sudden physical pain. v. To cause to feel a sharp pain. , because if a hamstring goes completely, you don't get to walk off the pitch. "I hope and wish that he will be back soon. He has no natural replacement. Every side has a main reference, a home-grown player, someone who lives and breathes the club. "Other players come and go, but that player remains. Here, our reference player is Gerrard. Liverpool FC is Gerrard plus ten more. He's irreplaceable." Meanwhile, reports that Tom Hicks and George Gillett have told Rafa Benitez that his contract saga must be brought to an end this week are inaccurate. Liverpool's owners are keen for the proposed four and a half year deal to be signed at the earliest possible opportunity but they have not imposed any deadlines. Talks are progressing well and both parties are hoping for a resolution sooner rather than later. CAPTION(S): GERRARD FAN: Torres |
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