Lucas will bounce back, says Rodgers

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has backed midfielder Lucas to make a speedy recovery from his latest injury setback.

The Brazilian, who missed most of last season after knee surgery, has been ruled out for two to three months with a thigh problem.

It is a blow to the Liverpool boss, who otherwise has a full squad to pick from for tonight’s Europa League play-off second leg against Hearts.

Rodgers, whose side lead 1-0 on aggregate, has promised to field a strong side, meaning some of the stars who missed the trip to Edinburgh — such as Steven Gerrard, Glen Johnson and Luis Suarez — could be involved.

As for Lucas, Rodgers is confident, after seeing the player’s response to last year’s troubles, that he won’t be out for as long as feared.

Rodgers said: “He’s a quick healer so I would hope we would have him back quicker than that but we won’t be rushing him.

“It is unfortunate he had got over his knee problems and was looking strong, getting near to full fitness and then he’s had this.

“He is a very courageous guy and very focused. His aim is to get back as quick as he possibly can.”

Lucas tweaked his thigh in the warm-up prior to Sunday’s Barclays Premier League clash with Manchester City at Anfield and lasted just four minutes of the game.

It came as a major blow to the 25-year-old, after missing seven months of the last campaign with cruciate ligament damage.

With the transfer window closing tomorrow night, Rodgers could be a busy man for the next 48 hours. However, one player staying at Anfield is skipper Gerrard — despite former England boss Sven Goran Eriksson suggesting yesterday the 32-year-old’s best chance of winning a league title lies away from his spiritual home.

Rodgers disagreed with the Swede. He said: “We understand how difficult it is going to be [to win the title] but I think he will still feel the dream is here. I don’t think he needs to move anywhere.

“Of course we will go through difficult moments — but his dream is to win the Barclays Premier League with Liverpool.

“I, along with everyone else and the supporters, will fight for our lives to try to make that possible.”