Liverpool FC boss Kenny Dalglish happy to be handed full-back selection headache
by Neil Jones, Liverpool Daily PostNov 23 2011

KENNY DALGLISH admits there is a selection headache brewing for Liverpool FC in the right-back position, but says the issue is a nice problem to have.

England international Glen Johnson has made an encouraging return to action following injury recently, scoring Liverpool FC's winning goal at Chelsea on Sunday.

And while the 27-year-old is undoubtedly first-choice currently, behind him both Martin Kelly and Jon Flanagan are emerging as serious contenders for a first-team jersey.

“It’s a very pleasant problem,” Dalglish said. “We always said we want a strong squad and we have three boys very very capable of playing at right-back.

“It’s brilliant for us. We are lucky we have the three of them.”

Dalglish revealed he was pleased with the contribution of Johnson at Stamford Bridge.

The former Portsmouth man was making just his fourth league start of the campaign after a recurring hamstring problem, and his manager believes he will soon be operating at his optimum level.

“Glen has been out for a long while and missed a lot of football,” he said. “When that happens it takes time to get yourself right again.

“During getting his fitness back he’s still making a good contribution, and I’m sure the contribution he made on Sunday is the one most people will highlight.

“In every game, though, he gives the team something, and he is getting fitter too. With every appearance he’s nearing the standard he expects of himself.”

Johnson may need to be at his best over the next few months, too.

Both Kelly and Flanagan have starred for England’s U21 and U19 sides respectively in recent weeks, with Kelly, in particular, impressing as a central defender for Stuart Pearce’s side.

The 21-year-old has scored in each of his last two U21 appearances, and Dalglish says his versatility across defence is impressive.

“Kells played at centre-back for the under-21s and that’s where he started here,” added Dalglish. “That’s where he set out to be and maybe that’s where he will go back to.

“The two goals Martin got in the last two games for the U21s will not do him any harm. It will give him a greater appetite to play here. We know he has done well for us.

He added: “You do have to keep the spirits of the young ones up and keep them going.

“We don’t leave players out because of their age, we leave anyone out because you feel it’s right. If it’s right for Kells to play, then we’ll play him.

“The same goes for Flanno and Jack Robinson. Just because somebody is older, that won’t affect us.”

Meanwhile, Lille president Michel Seydoux says the club could sign on-loan midfielder Joe Cole on a permanent basis.

“It is not a certainty that he will leave us again at the end his contract,” Seydoux said. “If he has a certain good feeling with Lille and we can make him an interesting offer, this is something that we will look into.”

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