Football: Kuyt insists goal touch will return.

Byline: BY IAN DOYLE

DIRK KUYT believes it is "just a matter of time" before he rediscovers his goalscoring form for Liverpool.

But the Holland international admits he isn't surprised by the criticismthat has been levelled at him this season.

Kuyt has netted only seven goals in 22 appearances this season, with just three coming in the Premier League.

The 27-year-old suffered a personal nightmare in the goalless drawat Blackburn Rovers in November, and missed a fine chance late on to secure victory at Manchester City on Sunday.

However, the striker is confident he can deliver the kind of return that saw him net 83 goals in 122 league games with Feyenoord before moving to Anfield in August 2006.

"I know work hard enough to start getting results in my game," said Kuyt.

"I just have to be patient. I scored a lot of goals in Holland. Many of them were from chances similar to those I had against Blackburn.

Usually, they would go in for me.

"It's just a matter of time before it all comes back.

"Of the games I have started this season I am on my target of trying to score a goal in every two starts I get.

"If I play in more than 40 games and manage to score over 20 goals, I will be more than happy."

Of the criticism this season, Kuyt added: "When you are a player at a club like Liverpool you have to realise that people expect a lot of you.

"People are always watching you. If you do good things, the papers are full of you.

"If you miss a fewchances or don't play well, the papers are also full of you.

"It works both ways, that's the way football is. I don't mind too much. Okay, it's not a lot of fun to read the papers the next day if they are singling you out.

"But after the Blackburn game, maybe I was more disappointed than anyone."

Kuyt faces extra competition for his starting place when Wigan Athletic visit Anfield this evening, with Peter Crouch having now served his three-match suspension following the sending-off against Chelsea last month.

Benitez is closing on at least one new signing during this month's transfer window, with a centre-back the priority.

However, with Sami Hyypia almost certainly again sidelined by his ankle injury and Daniel Agger still not ready to return, Alvaro Arbeloa is poised to again partner Jamie Carragher at centre-back.

Jack Hobbs is an alternative, but Benitez is unlikely to risk the teenage defender against the Latics' former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey.

Hobbs was not even on the bench at Eastlands on Sunday, underlining concerns about his lack of experience.

Xabi Alonso is likely to come in to central midfield as Benitez shuffles his pack, while John Arne Riise and Andriy Voronin are also pushing for recalls.

Meanwhile, Harry Kewell admits his past injury problems means he cannot look too far ahead at Anfield.

The Australian international is out of contract in the summer, but insisted: "I can't even think about a new contract. With my injury history and my record over the last two seasons, games and goals-wise, I can look no further than the next match. That is all I am prepared to do. Take one training session at a time and do my best and give my all every time."

But he is grateful for the support he has received from manager Rafael Benitez.

"I want to repay him for that," he said.

FOR the full Dirk Kuyt interview, see this week's Official LFC Magazine.

CAPTION(S):

Liverpool's Dirk Kuyt says his hard work will bring its rewards