KIRKLANDS DREAMS SHATTERED AS HE RETURNS TO LIVERPOOL

Friday 24th March 2006
ANFIELD ONLINE LFC NEWS

KIRKLAND'S DREAMS OVER AS HE RETURNS TO ANFIELD

Chris Kirkland's World Cup dreams are over as he returned to Liverpool today after an injury which rules him out for the rest of the season. To cap it all Rafa had some bad news for the player.

Kirkland, who is on a season-long loan from Liverpool, has fractured the tip of his index finger and is expected to be sidelined for six weeks.

The 24-year-old has made 10 appearances for Bryan Robson side's this season.

"I'm disappointed and upset," Kirkland said. "It's ruled me out from the rest of the season and any chance I had for the World Cup, which was already slim."

The broken finger is the latest in a long list of problems for the former Coventry stopper that includes ankle, finger, wrist, kidney and back injuries.

Although surgery is not required, he is unlikely to have the chance to impress England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson before the World Cup squad deadline on 15 May.

With Kirkland apparently out of the equation, Norwich's Robert Green now looks certain to be selected as Eriksson's third choice, behind Paul Robinson and David James.

Kirkland joined West Brom last summer in the search for regular first-team football.

He began this season as first choice and was called up for the England squad for the autumn World Cup qualifiers.

But the kidney injury suffered against Bolton at the Reebok Stadium put an end to his run in the Albion side, with the form of Poland keeper Tomasz Kuszczak restricting his appearances.

He has not played a league game since October - with just a couple of FA Cup appearances to his name this year.

"It was a new break and I've just been unlucky again," Kirkland added.

"I'm going back to Liverpool now but I've been told by them that they are going to sell me in the summer.

"This injury, therefore, has come at a pretty bad time.

"But what I will say is whoever takes a chance on me in the summer will see how hard I work and how much I want to play.

"It all depends who comes in for me now. Hopefully West Brom will be one of those teams. I've just got to assess all the options open to me and take it from there."

Liverpool will be looking to cash in on Chris, who has fell behind the pecking order at Anfield with Jose Reina and Scott Carson expected to be 1st and 2nd choice keeper next season. Good luck Chris.

Discuss this news item with other fans in our forum