Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard to have second groin op
RAFA Benitez today revealed that Steven Gerrard is having to undergo a second operation on his troublesome groin injury but insisted he remains hopeful that his captain will be fit for the visit of Manchester United in two weeks' time.
Gerrard has been struggling with the injury for the last fortnight and has played through the pain barrier for club and country during that time.
But after consulting with a specialist on Thursday it was decided that surgery was the only way forward and he underwent his first operation yesterday.
His specialist decided that a second operation was the best course of action if the problem was to be cleared up entirely, though, and Gerrard will now undergo surgery again tomorrow.
Benitez remains confident that the original prognosis of 10-15 days out of action still applies and believes Gerrard has a chance of facing the Premier League champions at Anfield on September 13.
He said: "They are two small operations and the decision was taken that it would be better to do them both separately rather than do them together.
"It is the same problem but it is very, very simple.
"I think that the recovery process will still be quick and I hope he will be available for the United game.
"It will be very close but we will see."
Benitez is preparing his team for tomorrow's trip to Aston Villa in the absence of his captain and he is keen to avoid the clash being billed as Rafa Benitez versus Martin O'Neill.
The pair have fallen out over the Gareth Barry affair and relations remain strained but the Reds boss is adamant that the Villa Park meeting is about the players and not their managers.
He said: "We have a good team and they have a good team so we will see 22 players on the pitch and that is the important thing."
Meanwhile, the proposed signing of Albert Riera took another step closer yesterday when the Espanyol winger flew to Merseyside for a routine medical.
"We are very close," added Benitez.
"The player is coming here. Everybody knows because Espanyol have put on their website that he is coming for a medical.
"We are very, very close but he has not signed yet.
"He has experience in the Premier League and that is really important.
"If everything is okay we can talk about his qualities, but for now we will just say he is the option we are looking for."
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