Hodgson plays down Kuyt injury fears

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson expects Dirk Kuyt to be back in action within weeks despite the Holland forward’s fears that he would be sidelined for several months.

Kuyt suffered an ankle injury after landing awkwardly after an aerial challenge in Holland’s Euro 2012 qualifying victory over Sweden in midweek.

The 30-year-old admitted he expected to be out until next year, but Hodgson is confident he will be back in one month following an assessment by the club’s medical staff at their Melwood training ground on Thursday.

“The initial rumours coming out of Holland were that it was going to be a really long injury, maybe months,” Hodgson told Liverpoolfc.tv.

“But our doctor and our sports science people are much more optimistic. They think it is more likely to be one month – or if we are lucky three weeks.

“He seriously twisted his ankle with ligament damage and we are going to miss him for some matches that’s for sure.

“But he does recover very quickly and the thing about Dirk is that he is always anxious to get back on the football field. If it can done in three weeks it will be three. If it can be two he’ll do it in two – but we are looking at a lay-off.”

There was more good news for Hodgson as Spain striker Fernando Torres and left-back Paul Konchesky were declared fit for Sunday’s Merseyside derby against Everton.

Torres suffered an adductor strain in Liverpool’s shock defeat against Blackpool on October 3 and was considered a doubt for the trip to Goodison Park.

But Hodgson revealed on Thursday that both Torres and Konchesky, who strained a hamstring in a 2-2 draw with Sunderland last month, should be involved this weekend.

“Konchesky has made a good recovery as has Fernando Torres so all being well we can welcome those two back,” Hodgson said.

“Fernando’s season needs to kick-start, he’s been hampered a bit by injuries and what happened at the World Cup. We see a livelier and a better Fernando every day.

“It was really unfortunate he got that injury against Blackpool but luckily it came in the international break so he won’t miss any more league games for us.”