It’s great to be back, says confident Fowler

WHILE Robbie Fowler is desperate to get back among the goals, Paul Jewell is just desperate for a goalgetter.

For 66 minutes of his first start since returning to Anfield, Liverpool striker Fowler displayed glimpses of his old self.

But on a JJB Stadium pitch that cut up rough despite only being in place just two months he ran out of steam.

Good job then boss Rafael Benitez can rely on the rest of his squad to chip in because it is now seven Premiership matches in 2006 without a goal from one of his forwards.

It was Sami Hyypia's turn to show the mis-firing frontline the way to goal, scoring his first for 10 months with a stabbed shot from 12 yards on the half-hour.

Fowler said: "With me virtually not playing since May, it was fairly obvious I was going to tire. But it was just great to be back, although I'm desperate to get that first goal, and I'm confident in what I can do. If I'm not scoring and the team is winning, I'm very happy with that, but as a forward you always want to score goals."

The victory ended a run of three defeats in the last four games for Liverpool, in particular two in the preceding week to Chelsea and Charlton.

Jewell would have been grateful for just one forward on the pitch yesterday, but had to make do with midfielder Andreas Johansson and centre-back Paul Scharner in attack.

Jason Roberts was suspended, David Connolly and Lee McCulloch were injured, while Neil Mellor was ineligible due to the terms of his loan arrangement from Liverpool.

More pertinently was the no-show of Henri Camara, who had been due to return on Friday from African Nations Cup duty with Senegal.

Jewell said: "We're not going to feel sorry for ourselves. We only had 15 players which led to us placing a kid from the youth team on the bench.

"I am very disappointed with Henri, but I only want to talk about the people who are here and nobody else. You can take from that what you want."

Opta Fact: Liverpool have taken 17 points in north west derby games this season more than any other side.

Opta Fact: Wigan have gone seven Premiership games without a clean sheet.