LIVERPOOL NEWS

Benayoun returns to training


Rafael Benitez has revealed that Yossi Benayoun has return to first-team training with Liverpool after his broken rib.

Benayoun has not featured since the FA Cup defeat to Reading on January 13 and was ruled out for around a month, suggesting his comeback is not far behind schedule.

"Yossi was training with the team," Benitez told the club's official website. "Still we have to be careful with his rib but he was training."

Benayoun is not expected to feature in Thursday's Europa League tie at home to Unirea Urziceni but could be in the squad for their crucial Premier League match at Manchester City.

Meanwhile, Benitez hopes 19-year-old former Barcelona attacker Dani Pacheco can establish himself in the first-team in the near future.

"Dani is continuing to train with the first team," he said. "When we let (Andriy) Voronin go (to Dynamo Moscow), we immediately brought Dani into the group and every day you can see that he is progressing. His training is good.

"Every day you are thinking about when you can play, he has been on the bench a lot and sometimes you are thinking when it might be right to put him on, but you also have to think about senior players and giving time to others who need it.

"The one thing we know, though, is Dani is a player with quality. He has game intelligence and we know that he can make a difference. He is still very young but we are pleased with him and he is doing well."

He added: "Dani has no problems when he is in possession. He is clever and he always wants to try difficult things but that shows the quality that he has.

"The fact he is training with us shows what we think of him. He is with us all the time and that means he can play at any time. It depends on the game but, clearly, if he continues to keep working as he has been doing, he will definitely get his chance."