Benitez praise for Fowler on Kop return

RAFAEL BENITEZ has heralded Robbie Fowler’s homecoming with a glowing tribute to Liverpool’s goal-scoring legend.

Fowler, who left the club in the summer when his contract was not renewed, will return to Anfield tonight in the blue shirt of Cardiff for a Carling Cup fourth round tie.

Benitez even joked he was unsure whether to use his rookie centre-back Jack Hobbs in the game just in case he was taught a lesson by the veteran.

Benitez could use several squad players in the match including Lucas, Sebastian Leto, Harry Kewell, Fabio Aurelio, Charles Itandje and Hobbs.

He will be without injured trio Javier Mascherano, Fernando Torres and Xabi Alonso, but is likely to give Alvaro Arbeloa a run-out after injury — probably alongside Jamie Carragher at the back.

Torres will be out for three weeks with a torn adductor muscle, while Alonso has another broken metatarsal. He missed six weeks with the first injury and can expect to be out for a similar length of time again.

It is expected that Peter Crouch will start up front, having played particularly well as a second-half substitute against Arsenal on Sunday.

But all eyes will be on veteran Fowler and whether he can manage one final goal in front of the Merseyside fans who still call him ‘God’.

Benitez said: “Maybe we can arrange for him to score once more in front of the Kop, but only when we are winning 3-0.

“Seriously, though, I view his return to Liverpool a couple of years ago as a great success, he showed so much commitment and effort. And our younger players will have learned a lot from just watching him in training.’’

“I am sure that he will be able to pass on a lot of experience and know-how to the young players at Cardiff.”

Benitez added: “Robbie was a great success here the second time around. People may have raised their eyebrows a bit when we brought him back here from Manchester City.

“But he showed us his quality, good mentality and his commitment was really good. For a player with the problems that he had in terms of injuries and his age, he was just fantastic to work with.’’

He added: “Maybe he did not have the ‘legs’ needed to play in a top side any more, but he had everything else. He had the passion, commitment, the right mentality and character.

“I was really pleased with him when he was here, the move was a success.’’

Cardiff manager Dave Jones insists Fowler will not be affected by his emotional return to Anfield.

“He’s not been bothered at all with it,” Jones said.

“He doesn’t want to be interviewed and he’s quite happy to get on with his footballing life.

“He’s been back before with two other clubs (Leeds and Manchester City), so he just wants to get on and play.”

Jones has injury worries, however, with Kevin McNaughton, Roger Johnson, Trevor Sinclair and Paul Parry injury doubts and on-loan Manchester City keeper Kasper Schmeichel ineligible for the game.

Michael Oakes will return to the starting 11, with Josh Magennis on the bench as ex-Derry City man David Ford is cup-tied.