THEY'D BE IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE IF HE HADN'T BEEN HURT:

Rodgers ready to build new-look Liverpool around returning Brazilian midfielder Lucas  (DOMINIC KING, 21 July 2012, Daily Mail)

It was no surprise Liverpool's results dipped when he was out of the team last season and Rodgers is in no doubt how much the young man from Porto Alegre will offer. 


'I have only been at the club a short period of time and when I arrived, people told me how special he was as a player and how special a character he is,' said Rodgers. 


'But he is even better than that. When you meet him in real life, you see how hard he works. 


'The injury he had should have kept him out for nine months but he is back two months early. You can only do that through two things – determination and hard work. He is the ultimate professional and he is going to be a brilliant player in my career here. 


'I am just looking forward to seeing him back fully fit. But I know that every day he is fighting hard to get there. Not only is he a top footballer but he is a top guy as well. He is doing fantastic at this stage of his recuperation.' 




To hear Rodgers speak so endearingly made it impossible not to think about the journey Lucas has been on. 
Not so long ago, he was a figure derided by the Kop, one who was booed during a game against Fulham.  


It would have been easy to give in but, instead, he kept fighting. After winning the club's Young Player of the Year award in 2010, he was almost sold after Rafa Benitez was sacked but, again, he knuckled down to be name the club's Player of the Year in 2011 and last season he was playing the best football of his career before injury struck.