Lucas fitness update

The 25-year-old missed over half of last term after undergoing surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament following an injury sustained in the Carling Cup win at Chelsea in November.

Lucas is now targeting a return to first-team action as soon as possible following a spell of rehab in his native Brazil.

“I don’t have too many experiences with injuries because fortunately I had none in my time at Liverpool previously, so it has been a learning process for me as well and I am very happy with the progress,” said the Reds’ No.21.

“I think I am progressing very well in terms of the knee, strength and fitness-wise.”I am confident I will be back at the same level because I know how hard I am working.

“The first four weeks I saw my knee it was very bad looking and it comes through your head that you might not be at the same level you were before.

“But at the same time you see big players who had the same injury come back and be even better.

“There is no need for me to be scared. Rather than stay protecting myself, I need to work on my head as well to come back and play the same way I was playing before.

“My main target now is to be 100 percent recovered and be okay to play a part in next season.”