Martin Kelly has revealed that he is almost back to full fitness and ready to make a push into Liverpool’s first-team.
Kelly has made just two league appearances for the Reds since rupturing an anterior cruciate ligament during a league match against Manchester United in September 2012.
Now the 23-year-old defender feels he is regaining his sharpness after over a year in rehabilitation.
“It was a good chance for me to get some minutes,” Kelly told the Liverpool Echo, after coming on as a second-half substitute against West Ham at the weekend for the final 12 minutes.
“I’m feeling a lot sharper. I’ve been doing some additional training over the past few weeks and I’m ready to push on.
“It has taken longer than I hoped to get back to this level but that’s been brought on by us not being in the Europa League or having much of a run in the League Cup.
“It’s been difficult to get game time as the manager has to pick his best XI to start every game
“I was just made up to get on against West Ham and now I need to keep progressing. I’ve been working hard and I feel a lot fitter than back in pre-season.”
Kelly also played during the Liverpool Under-21′s defeat at home to Bolton on Monday afternoon as he looks to increase his game time and fitness.
Asked whether the final part of his return from injury could have any psychological hurdles to jump, Kelly added, “I don’t think there’s been a mental barrier to get through as such, it’s more about not feeling as sharp as I wanted.
“Ask anyone who has had a long-term injury and they’ll tell you it’s tough to get back to that level you were at before the injury.
“It takes time and it comes back slowly. Now I’m back nearly to peak fitness and I’m ready to go.”
Since making his debut for the club in 2008/09 under Rafa Benitez, Kelly has made 57 appearances in all competitions for the club, scoring once, in a League Cup victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in November 2011.
Martin Kelly has revealed that he is almost back to full fitness and ready to make a push into Liverpool’s first-team.
Kelly has made just two league appearances for the Reds since rupturing an anterior cruciate ligament during a league match against Manchester United in September 2012.
Now the 23-year-old defender feels he is regaining his sharpness after over a year in rehabilitation.
“It was a good chance for me to get some minutes,” Kelly told the Liverpool Echo, after coming on as a second-half substitute against West Ham at the weekend for the final 12 minutes.
“I’m feeling a lot sharper. I’ve been doing some additional training over the past few weeks and I’m ready to push on.
“It has taken longer than I hoped to get back to this level but that’s been brought on by us not being in the Europa League or having much of a run in the League Cup.
“It’s been difficult to get game time as the manager has to pick his best XI to start every game
“I was just made up to get on against West Ham and now I need to keep progressing. I’ve been working hard and I feel a lot fitter than back in pre-season.”
Kelly also played during the Liverpool Under-21′s defeat at home to Bolton on Monday afternoon as he looks to increase his game time and fitness.
Asked whether the final part of his return from injury could have any psychological hurdles to jump, Kelly added, “I don’t think there’s been a mental barrier to get through as such, it’s more about not feeling as sharp as I wanted.
“Ask anyone who has had a long-term injury and they’ll tell you it’s tough to get back to that level you were at before the injury.
“It takes time and it comes back slowly. Now I’m back nearly to peak fitness and I’m ready to go.”
Since making his debut for the club in 2008/09 under Rafa Benitez, Kelly has made 57 appearances in all competitions for the club, scoring once, in a League Cup victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in November 2011.
Liverpool’s hopes of signing Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Javier Pastore in January have been given a boost, according to talkSPORT.
The radio station now say that Pastore’s departure on-loan from the French Ligue 1 club “now looks certain”.
Having made just two appearances for PSG this season, 24-year-old Pastore is looking for first-team football to increase his chances of being taken to next year’s World Cup with Argentina.
talkSPORT report on Wednesday:
Liverpool are the leading English club in the chase for the former Palermo man’s services as he is ineligible to play in the Champions League for anyone else this season, which rules out the Manchester clubs, Arsenal and Chelsea.
Pastore is primarily an attacking midfielder, having been signed by the Qatari-owned club from Palermo for €22.8 million in 2011.
Pastore has won 13 caps for Argentina, after winning his first cap under Diego Maradona in 2010. He was part of Argentina’s squad at the World Cup in South Africa that year.
Back in October, we brought you a full scouting report on Pastore.
Writer Mahesh M. wrote in the report:
He is very much an FSG type of a buy. An excellent player with oodles of talent, disillusioned with his life at the current club, looking for a fresh start and available on the cheap? Yup, fits the profile well enough.
He may find it difficult in the Premier League though as he is very lightweight and could easily get bullied off the ball. However, with the recent success of small quick players like Mata, this gamble may just be worth our while.
Liverpool may be hoping to strengthen their attacking and creative options with the loan signing of Pastore in January, however other areas of the first-team appear to remain Brendan Rodgers’ priority.
As the January transfer window draws closer, Liverpool have also been linked this week with Hamburg midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu and Burnley striker Danny Ings</>.
Liverpool’s hopes of signing Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Javier Pastore in January have been given a boost, according to talkSPORT.
The radio station now say that Pastore’s departure on-loan from the French Ligue 1 club “now looks certain”.
Having made just two appearances for PSG this season, 24-year-old Pastore is looking for first-team football to increase his chances of being taken to next year’s World Cup with Argentina.
talkSPORT report on Wednesday:
Liverpool are the leading English club in the chase for the former Palermo man’s services as he is ineligible to play in the Champions League for anyone else this season, which rules out the Manchester clubs, Arsenal and Chelsea.
Pastore is primarily an attacking midfielder, having been signed by the Qatari-owned club from Palermo for €22.8 million in 2011.
Pastore has won 13 caps for Argentina, after winning his first cap under Diego Maradona in 2010. He was part of Argentina’s squad at the World Cup in South Africa that year.
Back in October, we brought you a full scouting report on Pastore.
Writer Mahesh M. wrote in the report:
He is very much an FSG type of a buy. An excellent player with oodles of talent, disillusioned with his life at the current club, looking for a fresh start and available on the cheap? Yup, fits the profile well enough.
He may find it difficult in the Premier League though as he is very lightweight and could easily get bullied off the ball. However, with the recent success of small quick players like Mata, this gamble may just be worth our while.
Liverpool may be hoping to strengthen their attacking and creative options with the loan signing of Pastore in January, however other areas of the first-team appear to remain Brendan Rodgers’ priority.
As the January transfer window draws closer, Liverpool have also been linked this week with Hamburg midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu and Burnley striker Danny Ings</>.
Celtic have entered the race to sign Burnley striker Danny Ings, who Liverpool were linked with last week, according to reports in the media on Wednesday.
As we reported last week, Liverpool are said to be interested in signing the England Under-21 international, who has scored 11 goals in the Championship this season.
Now Celtic manager Neil Lennon has turned his interests to signing Ings in the January transfer window.
The Mirror’s Alan Nixon writes:
Lennon sent assistant Garry Parker to watch England U21 cap Ings in action at the weekend as he looks to spend the cash from the sale of Gary Hooper.
With the recent injury to Daniel Sturridge, Brendan Rodgers may well be considering a January move for a new striker, with Luis Suarez and Iago Aspas the only established other options at the club.
Ings has won two caps for Gareth Southgate’s England Under-21 side, scoring twice in their recent 9-0 demolition of San Marino.
Ings is the latest of a number of Championship youngsters to be linked to Liverpool – with Derby County’s Will Hughes said to be high up on Rodgers’ wishlist.
Liverpool have also been linked with moves for Hamburg midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu and Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Javier Pastore this week.
Do Liverpool need a new striker, or will Suarez and Sturridge suffice for the remainder of the season? Let us know your thoughts, and any candidates you have in mind for Rodgers to bring in, in the comments below, or on Twitter @thisisanfield .
Celtic have entered the race to sign Burnley striker Danny Ings, who Liverpool were linked with last week, according to reports in the media on Wednesday.
As we reported last week, Liverpool are said to be interested in signing the England Under-21 international, who has scored 11 goals in the Championship this season.
Now Celtic manager Neil Lennon has turned his interests to signing Ings in the January transfer window.
The Mirror’s Alan Nixon writes:
Lennon sent assistant Garry Parker to watch England U21 cap Ings in action at the weekend as he looks to spend the cash from the sale of Gary Hooper.
With the recent injury to Daniel Sturridge, Brendan Rodgers may well be considering a January move for a new striker, with Luis Suarez and Iago Aspas the only established other options at the club.
Ings has won two caps for Gareth Southgate’s England Under-21 side, scoring twice in their recent 9-0 demolition of San Marino.
Ings is the latest of a number of Championship youngsters to be linked to Liverpool – with Derby County’s Will Hughes said to be high up on Rodgers’ wishlist.
Liverpool have also been linked with moves for Hamburg midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu and Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Javier Pastore this week.
Do Liverpool need a new striker, or will Suarez and Sturridge suffice for the remainder of the season? Let us know your thoughts, and any candidates you have in mind for Rodgers to bring in, in the comments below, or on Twitter @thisisanfield .
