Liverpool's summer freebie Milan Jovanovic has only played 45 minutes for his new club but he is already a hero on the Kop. The Serbia striker's UEFA Cup goal for Standard Liege against Everton two years ago earned him plaudits from the red half of the city long before he had even arrived on Merseyside and, with doubts still surrounding the Anfield future of goal machine Fernando Torres, Jovanovic is well aware that Liverpool will welcome him with open arms.
Jovanovic, whose switch to Liverpool was pushed through by the board while they were still without a manager, is likely to make his first competitive start for Roy Hodgson in the Europa League this week after coming through the first half at
Kaiserslautern.
He was employed as a left winger in the 1-0 defeat by the German side, who celebrated promotion back to the Bundesliga last season.
His early touches may have looked a little suspect but the Serbia World Cup star was not the only Liverpool player to look a little rusty in their final game before they travel to Macedonia on Thursday.
The worry for Hodgson after two friendlies is that his team have not yet scored, nor looked likely to do so.
Jovanovic knows his best is to come and the striker is aware that the pressure is already on Hodgson and the young, experimental side he will have to field in Skopje against FK Rabotnicki.
He said: 'We have got a young team with much talent and potential but, if we score first, the situation will change and we will get much more confidence.
'I have got to use every minute and every small chance in every game for Liverpool to show I deserve to be here.'
Hodgson used David Ngog and Nathan Eccleston as his two strikers in the impressive Fritz Walter Stadium, a 2006 World Cup venue, handing Jovanovic a difficult 45-minute shift in front of Stephen Darby, the defender likely to be given the left-back slot for the European openers as Hodgson does not have another one.
If he was put out by the role, Jovanovic hid it well, and he could even put a positive spin on his change of shirt number, instigated by Joe Cole's arrival last week. Jovanovic was originally handed the No 10 shirt on the day of his long-awaited arrival but, with Cole pleading for that number, he has been given the No 14.
Jovanovic said: 'I was really happy with the switch because No 14 is my favourite and it is the number I wear for the national team.
'It doesn't matter which position I play. That is a question for the coach. Of course, I have my own opinion but it won't be a problem if I have to play on the left wing again. Maybe with a bit of time and, when I know all the small things about playing in that position, then it will help me. I do know how to play football, though.'
Hodgson set alarm bells ringing with his comment that he 'can do no more' to persuade Torres to stay but privately he and managing director Christian Purslow are optimistic the Spanish World Cup winner will pledge his future to the club.
But the long delay following Purslow's exhaustive talks leaves an air of uncertainty around the club, as well as leaving Hodgson's every utterance on the matter open to interpretation.
Of more immediate concern to the Liverpool boss is this week's opening tie in Skopje - and the dilemma surrounding the participation of captain Steven Gerrard and fellow England team-mates Joe Cole, Jamie Carragher and Glen Johnson, among others.
The club's head of sports science Peter Brukner has advised against their selection amid fears of burn-out later in the season, but Hodgson will not want to risk his first game ending with a defeat.
Hodgson admitted: 'I don't know what to do at this stage. I don't know their state of fitness. They have been training for five days at Melwood. I will have to make a decision by Tuesday.'
Alberto Aquilani missed Saturday's defeat with a knee problem but is expected to be fit.
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