Rejuvenated Kewell in line for new contract
December 03, 2007
IN a remarkable statement of faith, Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has backed Socceroos star Harry Kewell to continue his career at Liverpool, despite the injury-ravaged forward's contract expiring at the end of this season.
Amid widespread expectation that Kewell would struggle to justify a new Anfield deal as he continues yet another comeback from injury, Benitez moved to back the Sydney-born forward, who would be free to discuss a deal with a new club outside the UK from January 1.
In comments that suggest Kewell has every prospect of earning a new contract if he stays fit, the Liverpool manager said: "He wants to stay in England and I believe he wants to remain here.
"I have been really impressed with his work in training and he has done well in the bits of games he has played.
"He is nearly ready for a full 90 minutes and I think his future will be at this club."
Kewell himself has asked Benitez that any discussions about a new deal should wait until he is starting regularly for Liverpool, as the coach has sought to reintroduce him to the team gently with a series of cameos off the bench.
In the Champions League in midweek, Kewell played almost half an hour and set up Liverpool's second goal for Fernando Torres in the 4-1 thumping of Porto.
The left side remains a problem area for Liverpool in Kewell's absence, which goes a long way to explaining Benitez's faith in a player on much better terms with the Liverpool medical room than the Anfield pitch in recent times.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...-23215,00.html
December 03, 2007
IN a remarkable statement of faith, Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has backed Socceroos star Harry Kewell to continue his career at Liverpool, despite the injury-ravaged forward's contract expiring at the end of this season.
Amid widespread expectation that Kewell would struggle to justify a new Anfield deal as he continues yet another comeback from injury, Benitez moved to back the Sydney-born forward, who would be free to discuss a deal with a new club outside the UK from January 1.
In comments that suggest Kewell has every prospect of earning a new contract if he stays fit, the Liverpool manager said: "He wants to stay in England and I believe he wants to remain here.
"I have been really impressed with his work in training and he has done well in the bits of games he has played.
"He is nearly ready for a full 90 minutes and I think his future will be at this club."
Kewell himself has asked Benitez that any discussions about a new deal should wait until he is starting regularly for Liverpool, as the coach has sought to reintroduce him to the team gently with a series of cameos off the bench.
In the Champions League in midweek, Kewell played almost half an hour and set up Liverpool's second goal for Fernando Torres in the 4-1 thumping of Porto.
The left side remains a problem area for Liverpool in Kewell's absence, which goes a long way to explaining Benitez's faith in a player on much better terms with the Liverpool medical room than the Anfield pitch in recent times.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...-23215,00.html
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