Torres set for Euro bench duty

Rafael Benitez will resist the temptation to throw Fernando Torres back into his starting line up for the second leg of Liverpool's Europa League tie with Unirea Urziceni.

The Spanish striker made his comeback after six weeks out with a knee injury when he played the final 15 minutes of Sunday's dour stalemate at Manchester City.

Torres came through unscathed and is set to be part of the squad who fly off to Romania tomorrow.

However, he is likely to only be named among the substitutes for Thursday night's clash in Bucharest.

Liverpool, who have scored just two goals in their last four games, are in desperate need of more firepower.

But Benitez is determined to take no risks with his 12-goal top scorer and he is confident Spain manager Vicente del Bosque will do the same.

Torres is set to be part of the Spain squad for their high profile friendly against France on Wednesday, March 3.

There have been reports of friction between club and country over the handling of Torres and Del Bosque was recently quoted as saying he hopes the striker plays as little as possible for Liverpool before this summer's World Cup.

However, Benitez insists he has no problem with the Spanish management team.

"We have a very good relationship with Fernando Hierro (technical director), Del Bosque and Javier Minano (fitness coach)," Benitez said.

"When people try to create a mess between Spain and us, remember that Del Bosque was the academy director at Real when I was an academy coach and I was his assistant for the first team.

"His fitness coach was my fitness coach in the under-18s and the second team. He is my friend.

"If I defend my players, it is because I have to, but we have very good communication.

"Hierro was in the first team when I was assistant at Real and when he was here we had a very good relationship."

Benitez is hoping Glen Johnson will return to full training within the next week.

The England right-back has been out since tearing the medial ligament in his right knee during the 1-0 victory at Villa Park in December.

"Yossi Benayoun is coming back, Fernando Torres is coming back, hopefully Glen Johnson will come back in the next week," he added.

"We are now bringing players back and the competition will be better for us and hopefully we can improve. I think we have enough quality."

Meanwhile, Liverpool Reserves defender Robbie Threlfall has joined Bradford City on loan for a month.

The 21-year-old left-back, who was part of the 2007 FA Youth Cup-winning squad, will go straight into new manager Peter Taylor's squad for tonight's clash at League Two leaders Rochdale.

Threlfall has previously also enjoyed successful loan spells with Hereford United and Northampton Town.

This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.