I won't freeze Jermaine Pennant out, insists Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez
RAFAEL BENITEZ has assured Jermaine Pennant he won't freeze him out at Liverpool.
The Anfield manager was prepared to let the winger leave the club during the recent transfer window.
Pennant had talks with both Stoke City and Blackburn Rovers but ultimately declined the advances of the Premier League duo.
The winger has fallen down the pecking order at Liverpool and has not even made the bench since being an unused substitute in the opening game at Standard Liege.
However, Benitez believes Pennant could still prove a useful squad member and has pencilled the 25-year-old in for an appearance in the Carling Cup clash against Crewe.
Liverpool may also look to extend Pennant's contract at Anfield.
The winger has entered the final 12 months of the three-year deal he signed when arriving from Birmingham City for £6.7million in July 2006.
Liverpool have the option to invoke a one-year extension, a course they may choose to follow to prevent Pennant walking out of the club on a free transfer at the end of the season.
One player who did leave Anfield before Monday night's transfer deadline, Steve Finnan, has received praise from former team-mate Jamie Carragher.
"He's been a great servant," said Carragher. "He and Markus Babbel have been the best full-backs I have played with at this club. He was part of Istanbul and getting us to Athens, as well as the 2006 FA Cup win. It was a great signing by Gerard Houllier and I think Steve can be very proud of his Liverpool career."
Meanwhile, Andriy Voronin has expressed his delight at securing a season-long loan move back to the Bundesliga with Hertha Berlin.
"Hertha is a fine club with a young and very good team," he said. "It is a very, very exciting task ahead of me.
"Of course it is a brilliant league and the atmosphere is very special, but the difference between the Premier League and the Bundesliga is not huge."
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