Aquilani hands Rafa boost

Alberto Aquilani could finally get his Liverpool career up and running within a fortnight after Rafa Benitez today issued a positive fitness bulletin.

The Italian international has yet to kick a ball in anger for the Reds since his move from Roma in August but his manager hopes that will all change within the month.

Benitez has been delighted with the way Aquilani has responded to treatment on the ankle which required surgery in the summer and is now tentatively looking for a suitable starting point to take the wraps off the 25-year-old.

An optimistic target would be for the playmaker to be involved in the squad for the first time in two weeks - when Lyon are due at Anfield for a crucial Champions League fixture - but Benitez is erring on the side of caution.

A more realistic target is likely to be the Carling Cup clash against Arsenal on October 28 and Benitez hopes he will see Aquilani take another big step forward with his rehabilitation during the international break.

"I have been speaking to the doctors and things are going well with him," said Benitez.

"Alberto is progressing all the time. It could be two to three weeks before he is back.

"But we need to use caution. If it is two weeks everyone will say 'that is fantastic' but if it is three, everyone will say it is not a problem. I think that we have to be careful.

"We will take it one step at a time and we have the international break to look forward to now. That will be good for him, as he will have some more time (to recover without missing any games)."

Aquilani arrived at Anfield during the first week of August and there is little doubt his cunning and guile in the engine room will make him a welcome addition.

Clearly, though, it is going to take a period for Aquilani to get adjusted to the hustle and bustle of the Premier League and Benitez will, understandably, look to ease him to the team initially.

"He is running and swimming - I think he will have the record in the swimming pool by the end of his programme - and he is working in the gym," said Benitez.

"He is doing almost everything and he is doing some things with the team. The only thing he is not doing is kick a ball - not yet anyway."

The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of Liverpool Football Club.