Liverpool’s backroom medical staff have today spoon fed us some insight into the physical condition of star striker and would-be Fantasy favourite, Fernando Torres.
The Anfield club’s “Head of sports science” Peter Brukner has revealed that he and his staff believe that, although Torres has retuned ahead of schedule, the Spaniard remains “three or four weeks” short of his physical peak and true form on the pitch. Brukner offers us this…
“We’re now at the stage where he can play the whole game…He’s still not at his physical peak, that will take another three or four weeks, but I think you can see in every game he’s played he’s improving.”
Torres returned to action from an adductor injury sustained during World Cup duty as a sub against Arsenal in gameweek one having progressed well with a “special programme” of training devised by Brukner and his staff. The striker started the gameweek two and three fixture at Man City and at home to West Brom last time out but was subbed in both. Torres typically provided the difference against the Baggies, firing home a precise volley to win the game. That roused some Fantasy interest in the striker who undeniably has the potential to challenge Didier Drogba and Wayne Rooney for the Golden Boot this season.
The striker has picked up investment of late then but is still only owned by 6% of Fantasy Premier League managers. Drogba’s form and ownership remains so dominant it’s likely to be a while before Torres can make too much impression on that score. Goals will help matters but, given that Liverpool’s next two fixtures are at Birmingham and Man United, Torres won’t find it easy to establish the form he needs to turn heads.
Today’s news suggests Torres is at least a couple of gameweeks from recovering his full sharpness, but we we should still be considering him for Gameweek’s six and seven. They bring Anfield fixtures with Sunderland and Blackpool, presenting plum ties for Torres to get the goals and start the Fantasy bandwagon moving at pace. With Torres’ Anfield scoring record and another couple of 90 minutes under his belt, he seems likely to pick up suitors, particularly with Drogba facing tests at Man City and at home to Arsenal over those two Gameweeks.