Mellor intent on cementing Anfield place

Liverpool striker Neil Mellor is determined to continue his quest for long-term recognition at Anfield.

The youngster looks set to lead Liverpool’s attack in tonight’s re-arranged FA Cup third-round clash at Burnley, with boss Rafael Benitez again likely to field a side full of the same youngsters that have already taken the Merseysiders into the Carling Cup semi-final.

And despite being written off by critics as not good enough for the Premier League, Mellor will grab another chance to impress his new Spanish manager.

Mellor was destined to spend a loan spell at Crewe following a period at West Ham before former boss Gerard Houllier was axed in the summer.

Then he was the subject of a serious move from Sheffield United before Christmas, just prior to Liverpool’s injury nightmare which forced Benitez to hang on to the Yorkshire-born striker.

However, new signing Fernando Morientes is cup tied in the Champions League, so Mellor is still important to his injury-ravaged strike force.

He has again been the subject of another approach by the Blades, but Mellor said: “I do not want to leave. The first I heard of interest from Sheffield United was when I saw it on TV but I will not be going there.

“I want to stay and keep improving to show the manager I can do a job when I get the chance.

“I know my form has not been good since I had flu before Christmas, and I am the first person to say when I am not playing well.

“I am not even thinking of leaving. This has been a brilliant season for me so far, getting into the Liverpool first team.”

Mellor has confounded the critics with stunning goals against Arsenal and Olympiacos and has forced Benitez to take notice.

Benitez will continue with Jerzy Dudek in goal despite his howler to gift Wayne Rooney the winner in Saturday’s match with Manchester United.

But Steven Gerrard will be rested with youngsters like David Raven, Zak Whitbread, Darren Potter, John Welsh, Stephen Warnock and Mellor likely to play at Turf Moor.

Steve Finnan is still not fit to play with a hamstring problem, while Djibril Cisse, Xabi Alonso, Josemi, Harry Kewell and Chris Kirkland are also injured.

Warnock is another who cannot wait for a chance to impress, having been laid low with flu when the first attempt to play the tie on January 7 was ended by a waterlogged pitch.

Warnock told www.liverpoolfc.tv: “Once you get into the team you want to cement your place and be a regular in the squad all the time. At the moment I am in and out of the squad and that is difficult to accept sometimes.

“My ambition is to play and do well every week. I need to be playing as often as possible and I would love to get a prolonged run in the team so I can show the manager what I can do.

“With a bit of luck we can enjoy a decent run in the FA Cup, just like in the Carling Cup. That has been massive for some of the younger lads and enabled them to show the manager what they are capable of in a big-game situation.”