Kirkland feeling no ill-effects from heavy tackle

CHRIS KIRKLAND is feeling no ill-effects from the horror tackle which could have wrecked his season at Bramall Lane on Wednesday night.

The Liverpool goalkeeper was left writhing on the ground in agony in the 68th minute of the Worthington Cup defeat to Sheffield United after a lunge from Michael Brown.

Kirkland was caught across the knee and angry Reds manager Gerard Houllier said afterwards that the former Coventry man was lucky he had not broken his leg.

However, Kirkland said yesterday: “There’s no problem and I’ll be training as usual.” The goalkeeper was anxious not to discuss the incident in depth mindful of a potentially explosive second leg at Anfield.

But he said his side’s confidence remained high despite the two late goals which cancelled out Neil Mellor’s first for the club and gave the Division One side the advantage.

“There are still 90 minutes to go and they’ve got to come to Anfield, which is a tough place to come to,” said Kirkland. “We definitely think we can still qualify. If we didn’t there would be no point playing the return leg. As the lads said after the game, we’ll get them in the next leg.”

Houllier has shrugged off reports linking Liverpool to Blades wonder kid Michael Tonge. Neil Warnock claimed after the game that Tonge craved a move to Anfield and could be made available if his side failed to gain promotion to the Barclaycard Premiership.

But Houllier bit back: “Where did you hear that? We scout every good player in Division One. He’s not the only one.”

Meanwhile, veteran Sheffield midfielder Stuart McCall is convinced Tonge is destined for Premier League stardom following his heroics which have left United on the brink of the Worthington Cup final. Tonge stole the show and headlines from Liverpool’s own young hero, Mellor.

At 19, though, and against his prospective employers as Liverpool have long been reputed to be interested in the £5 million-rated attacking midfielder, Tonge showed just why he is one of the hottest prospects in the Nationwide League.

McCall, now in his 21st season as a professional, has seen many youngsters come and go over the years. However, he believes Tonge has what it takes to succeed at the highest level. Tonge was let go three years ago by Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, whose judgment has often not been wrong in the past.