Roy Tells Pacheco To Gear Up After Kuyt Injury

ROY HODGSON today challenged
Dani Pacheco to build on his
encouraging start to the season
and show he can provide
Liverpool with a potent striking
option.
With Dirk Kuyt out for a month
and David Ngog battling a
hamstring problem, Hodgson
could make the trip to
Birmingham on Sunday with
Fernando Torres as his sole front
man.
The Spaniard is not due back at
Melwood until Friday following
his country's glamour friendly
with Argentina, which they lost
4-1 in Buenos Aires last night.
As he played no part and will
return unschathed, Torres will
lead the line at St Andrews but
Hodgson knows he will need
options on the bench and
Pacheco will be certainly be in his
thoughts.
The 19-year-old has caught the
eye when Hodgson has pitched
him into battle so far – notably
away at Trabzonspor in the
Europa League.
Although there were some
suggestions earlier this summer
that Pacheco might have to move
on, the Reds boss has confirmed
he holds Pacheco in some regard
– now he wants to see him
flourish.
“I thought Dani did very well
when he came on against
Manchester City in the five or six
minutes he played, ” said
Hodgson.
“I also thought he did very well
when he came on against
Trabzonspor and he made a
difference. He is a player that we
really believe in.
“He is young but it is great that
can keep giving him these
opportunities and moments on
the field and I think these
moments will get even longer as
the season progresses.
“Now we are in the Europa
League, it is good for me too that
I will be able to give chances to
the likes of him, (Jay) Spearing
and (Jonjo) Shelvey.
“They need games and we will
have plenty of opportunities in
the coming months. ”
Pacheco was a big hit at this
summer's Under-19 European
Championship and finished
leading scorer with four goals
during Spain's run to the final.
But now Pacheco is determined
to show Hodgson his faith won't
be misplaced if he decides to let
him loose.
“I hope I will play a big part,”
said Pacheco. “I know that I have
to keep working very hard in
training and I will have to take
the chances that the manager
will give to me. ”
Fabio Aurelio, meanwhile, is
making progress back to full
fitness after missing the 1-0 win
over West Brom; he had been
taken off in the victory against
Trabzonpor as a precaution.