Borini: I’ll end goal drought

FABIO BORINI has promised Liverpool fans his trickle of goals will soon become a flood.

And he has been backed by Kop boss Brendan Rodgers, who reckons it is only a matter of time before the £11million striker has the doubters eating their words.

Rodgers was like a kid on Christmas Day when he landed Borini, 21, from Roma and paid a similar amount to bag Swansea’s Joe Allen.

Yet while Allen became an instant Anfield idol, Borini has still to win over supporters after just one goal in the Europa League win at Gomel.

But the Italian striker is full of confidence he will soon start banging them in because the same thing happened with Roma and an earlier loan spell with the Swans.

Borini, who has found himself playing wide rather than down the middle, insisted: “I know I’ve been bought to score goals but I don’t feel the pressure. It will come.

“The same thing happened at Roma last season. I scored once before October, then got injured for three months.

“After that I scored my second goal in January and from then until March I got 10. At Swansea I got six between March and April, so I know from past experience that I don’t need to rush my performances.

“The position I’ve been playing has been different as well. It hasn’t been as the main striker. Luis Suarez is centre-forward for us and he has scored five goals in six games.”

Borini returns to the line-up against Udinese tonight after missing a couple of matches with a damaged ankle.

And manager Rodgers thinks anyone judging the young hitman now will be left with egg on their face over the coming months.

He said: “Fabio probably hasn’t scored as many goals as he would have wanted to but I have been playing him in his No 2 position.

“He is better through the middle where you can see his qualities of moving off the shoulder and running in behind.

“My project for him was to be more for these type of competitions really and then growing in to it. But because of where we were at I have had to push him in that wee bit quicker. That is the reality.

“What I do know is he has a strong character. He is a real good kid and works hard every day. When you do that, it gives you more confidence and success follows.

“It is the same with all strikers. Joe plays in a different position and is going to be a bargain.

“Strikers, unfortunately, are judged on goals. That is where Fabio’s at and, over time, he will prove himself.”

Defender Daniel Agger and winger Suso are set to complete contract talks in the next few days by putting the final touches to new deals.

Agger, a summer target for Manchester City, has always insisted he would stay put once terms were agreed. And Suso, 18, has been rewarded for his incredible progress.