Rodgers: Suarez 'chomping at the bit' after bite ban

Posted Tuesday, September 24, 2013 by Sports.yahoo.com

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says Luis Suarez is "chomping at the bit" to make his first-team return after serving a 10-game ban.

Suarez was punished for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic in April, but he is now available for selection to face Manchester United in the Capital One Cup on Wednesday. Rodgers has admitted he is unsure if the Uruguyuan will play apart against the Premier League champions due to his lack of competitive action, but is confident he will shine once back to full fitness.

"It has been a really difficult time for him not playing games," Rodgers told reporters. "How he has prepared himself over the last number of weeks has been fantastic.

"He's really chomping at the bit to help the team. Everyone knows the depth of his quality and his attitude. Once he gets back on the field again he will show what he has shown since he's been here."

"He certainly comes back into the squad, and we're delighted to have him. He'll travel with us and we'll reflect in the next 24 hours whether he starts or not. Having someone of that quality back into your squad gives everyone a lift.

"You never get the full match fitness until you're playing and you have the crowd and everything, but one of the things that has astounded me in the time I've been here has been his physicality."

Rodgers, though, has admitted he might be without Daniel Agger after the defender limped out of Saturday's 1-0 defeat to Southampton.

"We'll see how he is for the game,” Rodgers said. “He could be a doubt for that game as he has not quite recovered. But we'll see. He's a player who makes a good recovery and we'll see over the next 24 hours how he gets on for the game on Wednesday."