Kuyt Out For A Month

"Our doctor and our sports
science people are much more
optimistic"
- Roy Hodgson
Kuyt out for three to four
weeks
Liverpool manager Roy
Hodgson has dismissed fears
Dirk Kuyt could have a long-
term injury problem.
The Reds manager expects the
forward to be fit in three to four
weeks.
The 30-year-old landed
awkwardly during Holland's Euro
2012 qualifying victory over
Sweden on Tuesday and some
reports claimed he could be out
until the new year.
However, Hodgson has played
down that speculation, saying:
"The initial rumours coming out
of Holland were that it was going
to be a really long injury, maybe
months.
"But our doctor and our sports
science people are much more
optimistic.
"They think it is more likely to be
one month - or if we are lucky
three weeks.
"He seriously twisted his ankle
with ligament damage and we
are going to miss him for some
matches that's for sure."
ANKLE LIGAMENTS
Kuyt has a record for quick
recovery, having come back at
least a week early from a
shoulder injury also sustained
while on international duty to
play against Sunderland last
month.
And although he will miss this
weekend's crucial Merseyside
derby at Goodison Park, Hodgson
is hopeful he will not be without
Kuyt for too long.
"He does recover very quickly and
the thing about Dirk is that he is
always anxious to get back on
the football field," added the
Reds chief.
"If it can be done in three weeks
it will be three. If it can be two
he'll do it in two - but we are
looking at a lay-off.
"It's disappointing because it is
the second time he has gone
away with the national team and
come back and missed weeks for
us."
The player himself was more
pessimistic, saying: "The swelling
is so bad it will take three to four
days to be sure, but I fear the
worst.
"You know your own body and it
doesn't feel good - the doctors
have the same feeling.
"They say I've probably torn
ankle ligaments, so let's hope
they're wrong."