Torres told to rest for three weeks

FERNANDO TORRES faces three weeks on the sidelines after flying to Spain for a second opinion on his troublesome groin problem, according to reports in the Spanish press.

Liverpool’s medical team had told the Spain striker that he needed an operation, similar to the one Steven Gerrard had last season, but Torres, desperate to avoid surgery at any cost, asked to be allowed to seek another medical opinion.

The manager, Rafael Benitez, agreed and the club provided a private jet to take Torres to Valencia on Thursday where he consulted a specialist, Dr Ramon Cugat.

Following an examination Dr Cugat prescribed a conservative treatment, based on complete rest for three weeks, which it is hoped will clear up the problem without recourse to the surgeon’s knife.

Torres returned to Liverpool’s Melwood training ground yesterday and the club and player are expected to make the final decision on his treatment shortly.

Liverpool have not confirmed the diagnosis coming out of Spain and indicate he will be monitored in the run-up to Monday’s home match against Birmingham.

However, the Spanish press has already ruled him out of Spain’s friendlies against Argentina on November 14th and Austria on November 18th.

And if Torres agrees with Cugat’s treatment, he is likely to miss four matches for Liverpool: three in the Premier League plus the crucial Champions League encounter away to Debrecen on November 24th which the Reds must win to remain in the competition.

Meanwhile, Torres’ former Liverpool team-mate, Xabi Alonso, has risked the wrath of his old club by claiming that the striker ought to be playing in La Liga. Alonso left Merseyside for Real Madrid in a €33.6 million move this summer and hopes Torres may soon join him in Spain.

“La Liga deserves players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Lionel Messi,” Alonso told Sport magazine.

“Now we are only missing my good friend Fernando Torres. I hope to see him back in Spain one day, but I don’t think he will come to Real Madrid.

“I think he has too big a heart for Atletico for that, sadly.”

Alonso says he has no regrets about leaving Liverpool, insisting he has a clear conscience over the move.

“I’m very happy to be back [in Spain] and enjoying every minute of it,” he added.

“I had five great years in Liverpool, but it is only healthy for every footballer to change environment after a period of time at the same club, so I’m very pleased I came here.

“Maybe some of the fans or people at the club don’t agree or don’t understand my motivations for leaving.

“But I think that I can look at myself in the mirror and know that I did everything possible for Liverpool, and I was committed throughout.”