Rafa won't rush duo back

RAFA BENITEZ today promised not to take any unnecessary risks with star duo Fernando Torres and Yossi Benayoun.

Benayoun made a welcome return to full training at last weekend, almost four weeks to the day after he broke his ribs during the FA Cup defeat against Reading.

Torres, meanwhile, has come on in leaps and bounds since he was given the green light to start running again last Tuesday, having recovered from knee surgery.

Both men will have key roles if Liverpool are to win the race for fourth place but, as keen as he is to get them back in action, their manager knows he has to tread carefully.

That's why Benitez - whose side face Unirea Urziceni in the Europa League tomorrow - will not sanction the return of either man to his starting line-up until he is satisfied they are fit enough.

"It is important to keep an eye on them all," said Benitez. "There is a difference between players being available and players being ready to play a game. If they come back early and are ready to play, that is good news for us but we have got to make sure that we do not push them back too soon.

"We need to make sure they will be okay for the last two months of the season. They are all getting that bit closer.

"But when you have a broken rib, like Yossi, or you have the meniscus problem that has kept Fernando out, you cannot reduce the time (it takes to get over the injury).

"It is impossible to get it down to three or four weeks but hopefully it won't be too long now and we will be really pleased when they are back.

"They have quality and, of course, they will help us. But, not only that, they will give us good competition for places."

One man who has thrived in the absence of Torres and Benayoun is Dirk Kuyt and Benitez was keen to give a ring endorsement of his credentials.

"The main thing for the team is always to have players ready," said Benitez. "You can have star players like Fernando and Stevie but you need others to help also.

"Dirk is a player with fantastic commitment and he can also score goals; he is the type of player every manager would want.

"I have been really pleased with him and so have his team-mates. The fans also realise that, with his 50 goals and the way he can play in so many positions.

"He is a player we should all be proud of."

This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.