Liverpool

Liverpool's Brendan Rodgers: 'Luis Suarez working hard'

By Gary Peters, Reporter | 19 September 2013

Luis Suarez is working and training hard as he prepares for his return to first-team action for Liverpool, says manager Brendan Rodgers.

Luis Suarez is "working his socks off", according to Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers.

The striker, who was itching for a move away from Anfield in the summer, is back in contention for a first-team spot after completing his 10-match ban for biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic last season.

Suarez could start in the Carling Cup match against Manchester United at Old Trafford next Wednesday, although he did play in a friendly match against Burnley this week.

"We have been organising some games behind closed doors, both in terms of in-house 11-a-side matches and bringing teams in," Rodgers told the Liverpool Echo.

"In between that he has had international games as well to keep him ticking over. He has been doing a lot of individual work, specific to him on top of all that and replicating his high intensity speed runs that he would do in a game.

"He is working his socks off. At the end of sessions, he is having extra work tagged on relative to him and his position. He is flushing himself out to the maximum to be as fit as he possibly can."

Despite his domestic ban, Suarez has played in international matches for Uruguay so far this season.