No easy route back for Steven Gerrard

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has warned Steven Gerrard there is no easy route back into his first-team plans.

The Reds captain has missed the last six matches with a hamstring injury and, although he has returned to training this week, he will be assessed before a decision can be made on whether he is fit to face Blackburn in tomorrow’s FA Cup quarter-final.

In his absence they have won five times, with their only defeat coming to Besiktas in the Europa League, but although Jordan Henderson has stepped up to successfully lead the side Rodgers insists the 24-year-old is no carbon-copy replacement.

Liverpool’s league record without Gerrard this season has seen them win all six matches in which he has not featured, scoring an average of 2.3 goals a game as opposed to 1.3 with him in the team. Gerrard’s absence has coincided with the team’s best run of form all season — they are unbeaten in the league since the turn of the year.

Though he is edging near to fitness, that may not mean he is closer to the team and he may find himself spending much of his final three months of his Liverpool career before leaving for Los Angeles Galaxy on the bench.

“There is no-one in the squad who has a God-given right to walk straight into the team,” said Rodgers.

“It probably would be (an issue) for other people but certainly not for me, and it wouldn’t be for Steven.

“He is very much a team player and if he was on the bench because the team was in good form and playing well, I think everyone respects that.

“He is an outstanding player still and having him back makes us a better squad.

“He is not fit yet so we just need to get him back and then if that (him sitting on the bench for the final three months of his Liverpool career) was the case you would have to ask Steven (how he feels).

“Let’s see how the season pans out.”

Henderson has assumed captaincy responsibilities in the interim period and his form has seen a marked upturn, with goals in his last two matches.

“Jordan is totally different. Steven is one of the best players of all time in the Premier League and I have said before there is no comparison,” he added.

“Jordan is a young guy who is a wonderful talent but a different type of player. Steven is one of the greats of the game, with all respect.

“Someone said he would be irreplaceable but we will find different ways and different types of players but I think you should stop trying to put pressure on a young player like Jordan Henderson. Because he takes a corner and Steven Gerrard takes a corner it doesn’t mean he is the new Steven Gerrard.

“Because of he shoots from outside the box it doesn’t mean he is the new Steven Gerrard. He is Jordan Henderson and he is creating his own career.”

Meanwhile Blackburn manager Gary Bowyer knows the odds are heavily weighted in their opponents’ favour.

“It’s David vs Goliath,” said Bowyer.

“Nobody’s giving us a chance outside of our dressing room.”