Liverpool midfielder Alberto Aquilani has completely recovered from the ankle problem which hampered his first season at Anfield, according to the club's new medical chief.
The Italian had to wait more than two months for his Reds debut following his £20million move from Roma last year and then endured an indifferent campaign.
The 25-year-old is now back with the club for pre-season training and has already made a positive impression on newly-appointed head of sports medicine and sports science Peter Brukner.
Brukner told LFC Weekly magazine: "Alberto's ankle, which was a problem last year, is now 100% healed.
"He has been training and has looked very sharp. He'll have to keep working on his injury prevention programme and if he does, I'm sure the supporters will see the best of him because last season was very frustrating for him injury-wise."
Brukner's next task is to assess the fitness of star striker Fernando Torres, who pulled up with an adductor injury in Sunday's World Cup final in South Africa.
Torres has now returned to Madrid with the rest of the victorious Spain squad and Liverpool staff are to fly out to meet him this week.
The 26-year-old is due to have a scan before beginning his summer break.
Torres has been plagued by injury in recent months. He struggled with a groin problem before Christmas and his domestic season ended prematurely after two knee operations in the space of four months.
He returned to action at the World Cup but looked well short of match sharpness throughout the whole tournament and failed to score.
Torres has been linked with big-money moves away from Anfield this summer but his latest injury may go some way to quelling speculation about his future.
Brukner is generally pleased with the health of the squad but the group is only coming back together slowly because of varying lengths of involvement at the World Cup.
"Staggering pre-season presents a challenge," he said. "I'm guessing that the World Cup guys will be pretty fit anyway.
"You don't lose a lot in three weeks and they've all been in contact with us to speak about their programme over that period."
http://msn.football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_6258310,00.htmlDavid Ngog's agent has rejected reports linking the Liverpool youngster with a loan move away from Anfield.
Reports had suggested Premier League new-boys West Brom were keen on signing Ngog on a season-long loan in a bid to bolster their squad.
However, Liverpool are unlikely to agree to any loan deal with Ngog in line to start the season in attack if Fernando Torres faces another spell on the sidelines with the groin injury he picked up in the World Cup final.
Ngog's agent, Bruno Satin, admits there has been interest in the France Under-21 international, but that the player wants to stay and fight for his place.
"There has been interest in David, but he will not be leaving on loan," Satin told skysports.com.
"He is only 20 years old and he played in 37 matches for Liverpool last season so why would they let him go?
"I know Roy Hodgson likes him as a player as he mentioned him before at Fulham. David wants to stay at Liverpool and fight for his place this season."
http://msn.football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_6258236,00.htmlAndres Iniesta believes his Spain team-mate Fernando Torres will decide on his future in the next fortnight.
The duo are basking in the glory of becoming World Cup winners - but Torres, who picked up a groin injury in the final, now has to weigh up his options with regards to his club future.
Chelsea have been strongly linked with a move for the 26-year-old as Liverpool cannot offer him Champions League football this season.
And Iniesta reckons Torres will be ready to sort out his future after a short break with his family.
"Fernando was fully focused on Spain and we didn't even talk about his future until last night," he is quoted as saying in the Daily Express.
"He is going to take a break with his wife and daughter [after attending his sister's wedding this week], speak to Liverpool and take things from there.
"Any club that has him is lucky to have him. David Villa says Torres is the most complete striker in the world and his future will be decided in the next two weeks."
Torres will also have a scan in the next 48 hours to determine the extent of the groin injury he suffered after replacing Villa in extra-time, although the tear to his left adductor is expected to keep him out for up to two months.
Iniesta, meanwhile, says he is unlikely to play in the Premier League.
"It's a league I love to watch, but I never have any intention of leaving Barcelona," he said.
"It's a dream of mine to play at Old Trafford - but as a Barcelona player and nothing else. I hope I stay for my whole career."
http://msn.football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_6258133,00.html
