Rodgers ready to unleash Suarez

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers claims Luis Suarez has suffered from not playing football during his 10-match ban but does not expect that to have dulled the striker’s fighting spirit.

The Reds boss is confident the 26-year-old, whom he said was “champing at the bit”, is ready both physically and mentally to return.

However, he is less sure about whether the player had learned from the sanction imposed for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic in April.

Rodgers would not confirm whether the Uruguay international had been helped by the club’s in-house psychologist Dr Steve Peters in the wake of his misdemeanour, but hinted it had been part of a wide-ranging rehabilitation programme.

Suarez, of course, has previous for biting, having been banned for seven matches for sinking his teeth into PSV Eindhoven’s Otman Bakkal while playing for Ajax in November 2010, immediately prior to his move to Anfield.

“I am not going into too much detail on him but he has had support in every way,” said Rodgers.

“It is not just technical and tactical development here, we look at physical elements and how we can improve psychological state.

“He’s had a long time to reflect on what has happened but now all that is in the past, the ban is finished and he has suffered because he hasn’t been playing.

“Now he is available and we are all delighted he is ready to go again.”

But asked whether Suarez had learned his lesson after a second lengthy ban for biting, Rodgers could only say: “We will see, we will see.”

Suarez is set to be thrust into action in tomorrow’s Capital One Cup tie against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

While he has played a handful of internationals and some behind-closed-doors friendlies at the club’s Melwood training ground, his last regular competitive football came to an end on April 21.

But Rodgers has no doubts over the player’s readiness to return.

“How he has prepared himself over the last number of weeks has been fantastic,” said the Reds boss.

“He’s really champing at the bit to help the team.

“Everyone knows the depth of his quality and his attitude.

“He is non-stop and he has commitment and I am sure once he gets back on the field again he will show what he has shown since he’s been here, which is top quality.”