Fabio Aurelio took part in Liverpool reserves 1-1 draw with Blackpool at the LFC Academy yesterday – completing 75 minutes of the match.
Blackpool’s equaliser, a speculative lob from 30 yards over Brad Jones, came late on in the game after Aurelio had been substituted off.
Aurelio was released in the summer after turning down the offer of a pay as you play contract. With injuries a major part of his Liverpool career the reds were uneasy to offer him a new contract. However, Roy’s arrival saw the return of Aurelio – handed a 2 year contract – and Emiliano Insua instead was loaned out.
At the time Hodgson said:
“I was quite surprised when I found out he was fully fit and hadn’t been offered a new contract, so I think it was a bit of an obvious thing to do. I said, ‘rather than move to another Barclays Premier League club why don’t you stay with us?'”
Now, after almost 3 months out injured Fabio Aurelio has told the official site he is ready to be involved against West Ham, possibly to replace the much-maligned Paul Konchesky who has not got off to an impressive start at Liverpool.
“I feel good after the 75 minutes for the reserves and I’m ready for Saturday if the manager needs me.
“I have been training well and I was in the squad for the Stoke game but didn’t make the bench. Hopefully I can play on Saturday.
“It was good to get some minutes against Blackpool and I enjoyed being back. Hopefully I can start a run of games for the first team now.
“It has been frustrating not to play but I have been working hard and kept my confidence up.
“I had an Achilles problem and then after I played for the reserves in a friendly at Huddersfield I suffered a small groin problem, but now I feel good and I’m ready to work hard for the manager.
“The more you play the more confidence you have. I’m feeling good and just want to play again.”
Aurelio had a relatively quiet game in the reserves, a game in which Suso and Dani Pacheco again impressed. Nathan Eccleston scored the first half Liverpool goal in a game the reds will feel they deserved far more from.
Liverpool return to Premier League action on Saturday evening, when they take on bottom of the table West Ham at Anfield.
Aurelio if fit is quality, but is rarely fit for more than a few games in succession. Rafa’s decision to only offer Fabio a ‘pay as you play’ contract was the right way forward. Hodgsons 3 decisions re: the left back position defy logic:
1. Releasing a 21 yr old Argentina international (classed as home grown) on loan. Insua has bags of potential, although was overplayed last season.
2. Wasting £4m (+ Dalla Valle) on the very average 29yr old Konchesky
3. Re-signing Fabio on a fixed contract.
I rate Fabio highly but he’s made of glass and we can’t rely on him. Konchesky isn’t good enough, just a journeyman ally for Roy and Comolli want young players who can be developed – we had Insua but Roy saw fit to get rid of any potential (as with Dalla Valle) because he’s not interested in the longerm future of this club as he knows he won’t last long. I hope the rumours of an Insua return are true…