Benitez in no hurry to play Torres

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez intends taking a cautious approach with Fernando Torres as the star striker works his way back to full fitness.

And that means Benitez is wary of fielding his fellow Spaniard in Thursday’s Europa League last 32 second leg clash with Romania’s Unirea Urziceni in Bucharest.

Torres made his comeback from a knee operation after five weeks out in a 15-minute substitute appearance in Sunday’s goalless draw at Manchester City.

But with a fourth place finish in the Premier League more important to Liverpool than their Europa League campaign – where they are 1-0 up from last week’s first leg at Anfield – Benitez plans to be patient with the 25-year-old.

“We knew we could use him against City. The idea was for 15-20 minutes but still he is not ready,” Benitez said on Wednesday.

“He needs match fitness and has to play and train, and we will see later on how he is coming along.

“He was doing very well with the physios and fitness coach. He is really happy.

“We decided to put him in the squad (against City) because he was training well last Friday. Now he can carry on and progress. He will be ready soon.

“We have to be careful because it has been a long time. Now it is a question of one step at a time.

“You cannot push him too hard because you could lose the player and it is not necessary.

“We will see how he progresses and we will decide each day.

“He could feature against Unirea. We have to see him training and afterwards see how he is feeling and then we will decide – but he will not start.”

England right back Glen Johnson has been out with a knee problem since the victory over Aston Villa at the end of December but Benitez said the defender was nearing a return to training.

“Johnson is very close. I think next week he will be training with the team, or maybe at the end of the week, but it will be the same situation we have with Torres,” said the Liverpool manager.

“He will need time and we will introduce him little by little.”

David Ngog’s goal is all that separates Liverpool from Unirea after a largely forgettable first leg at Anfield when the Romanians seemed intent on defence and not much else.

However, Benitez said: “We have to believe that the away leg will be different because they will have to attack and that will leave more spaces, and maybe we can create more clear chances.

“If they have to attack, they have to be higher (up the field) and the game will be totally different.

“The main thing now is that we know them. It will not be a surprise the next game and we have to be ready. We have to think about attack.”