'We won't panic buy'

Roy Hodgson today revealed he is prepared to be patient as he steps up his efforts to reshape Liverpool's squad.

The Reds' boss is overseeing a dramatic revamp of his playing staff and the search is on to draft in a left-back following the sale of Emiliano Insua to Fiorentina and Fabio Aurelio's release.

He continues to be linked with Maynor Figueroa of Wigan Athletic, while PSV Eindhoven's Mexican international Carlos Salcido is another name to have come on the radar.

There are, however, other areas of the squad he wants to bolster, particularly as more departures - headed by Olympiacos-bound Albert Riera - are anticipated before long.

Hodgson, though, will not be rushed into doing any business and has made it clear he would be prepared to wait until the transfer window closes on August 31 rather than buy in haste.

"I don't think deadlines are realistic," said Hodgson. "It takes time some time to get the people you want and the most important thing is getting the people you want.

"If you can do it quickly that's great because you have them in but if it takes time you take time. It would be nice to have someone in before the Europa League deadline but it's unrealistic."

Liverpool discovered last night they will face a trip to the Macedonian capital Skopje next week, where they will play FC Rabotnicki in the third qualifying round.

The first game was due to be played at Anfield but was switched as another Macedonia team, Teteks, progressed through to the same stage. Hodgson must hand in the squad he will select from to UEFA this afternoon but has admitted the tussle with Rabotnicki, who beat the Armenians FC Mika 1-0 on aggregate, is causing concern.

"I worry about not having enough players for next week a lot," he said.

"These will be two unbelievably difficult games for us at this stage of the season.

"But it really depends where we put the Europa League in the grand scheme of things.

"Aston Villa last year went out very early and went on to have a very good season

"If the club puts such emphasis on it and they want all our top players to play; but the sports scientists are telling me quite clearly that is not going to help us further down the road.

"It is a balance that not only I can sort out but it will be a decision for the club. Where in the list of priorities does the Europa League come?

"The sports scientists have a clear idea of when players come back training after a three-week break how much work they need to do before you can start throw them into competitive matches.

"They tell me it would be wrong if I look into using these players that early if we want to use them throughout the season."

Jamie Carragher has admitted he is desperate to play, while Steven Gerrard, Glen Johnson, Daniel Agger, Joe Cole and Martin Skrtel will have had more than a week's training by next Thursday.

Hodgson said: "If we don't throw them in then, we don't have the players with experience, so it is a cleft stick. You lose, lose. You lose if you don't play them and you lose if you do play them."

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