Steven Gerrard will return to training

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard could return to training as early as Monday after making good progress from a hamstring injury.

Gerrard was taken off in the later stages of the 2-1 friendly defeat against France. Liverpool was furious and the influential midfielder has missed matches against West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur
so far.

“Steven’s going well. He’s back running, though not back in training.
He’s certainly looking good to play the Newcastle game, which has been our target all along,” Liverpool’s head of sports medicine Dr Peter Brukner said on the Sky Sports
website.

It’s important for more than one reason that the club can get Gerrard back and involved around the training ground fairly quickly. He is a very influential figure who will
be crucial in keeping the spirits of the squad high.

He’s also one of Liverpool’s better players who can add a lot of quality into the midfield of the team. This will stop the side caving in as they did for Tottenham’s second
goal last weekend, which ultimately cost them the game.

“We’re hoping he’ll be back in training at the start of next week.
Everything’s gone to plan,” Brukner added.

The problem that Roy Hodgson and Liverpool has is knowing when to throw Gerrard back into a competitive environment. It will be tempting to select him as soon as possible but
if he is not fully recovered from the injury he picked up while playing for England then it could happen again.

If Gerrard plays in the Newcastle United match then it will mean his recovery has been spot on, even faster than many in the club expected. However, Hodgson may well start
with Gerrard on the bench until the skipper has had more practice sessions.

Betting advice

Gerrard is one of the most attacking components of this Liverpool team. Back him to score at any time in big matches and back him to be the club’s top scorer by the end of
the season. There is no doubt that Gerrard makes the Liverpool midfield more organised and the attack a greater threat.