Reclaim the Kop? Let's reclaim the number seven shirt first

In fact he has started a whole nine matches this term, but none since January, and of course he hasn't finished any.

The Australian's last sighting in a Liverpool jersey was in the FA Cup calamity to Barnsley, which is perhaps appropriate for one of the great underachieving careers in recent Anfield history.

His lightweight contribution is all the more galling because the number seven shirt is so iconic at Liverpool Football Club.

It's the jersey of Dalglish and Keegan - one, the greatest footballer in the club's history and the other the idolised superstar of Bill Shankly's second great team.
It's a jersey occasionally worn by the Duracell legend that was Ian Callaghan and it was the first number sewn onto the back of thousands of replica kits throughout the 70s and 80s.

Reclaim the Kop? Sure, but can we reclaim the number seven shirt first please?

Across the park it's the number nine which is cherished, but more than a few class acts have sported seven on their backs at Goodison Park, too.

Trevor Steven oozed style and enthusiasm, Alex Scott was a dynamic Scottish star, while Andy King was a 70s icon who inspired great affection.

Andy van der Meyde's appearances throughout 2007/08, however, make Kewell look like a latter day Cally.

That wasn't an optical illusion on the subs' bench at Goodison on the opening day of the season. It was the Dutchman who boasts 18 international caps and has graced clubs of the stature of Inter Milan and Ajax, but can't maintain a level of fitness sufficient to guarantee even a regular place in the dug-out.

He was back on bench-warming duty on September 30, then again three times in February. Not once, however, did he get further than the pre-match kick-in.

So, before the 2007/08 season has even come to a halt, can I make an early call for the 2008/09 campaign?

Can we have our number seven shirts back please?

And give them to somebody who might actually play once or twice?