Dirk Kuyt has revealed the frustration at being sidelined for up to four weeks with a shoulder injury, but is still hopeful of making an emotional return to Utrecht.
Liverpool's tireless winger faces a race against time to be fit for his side's trip to the Stadion Galgenwaard on September 30 for their Europa League group fixture, after landing awkwardly in training with Holland earlier this week.
Kuyt, 30, is eager to return to the club where he won the 2003 Dutch Cup - his only career trophy to date - but faces an anxious wait over the coming days as the injury begins to heal, which will determine the length of his recovery period.
He said: "I hope I will make it [for Utrecht] but it all depends on how the injury heals in the first few days.
"I knew I'd put something out and I pushed it back, but afterwards I was in a lot of pain so I went to the hospital where they found I had torn muscles.
"I have made a thousand of these moves without any problems. It is very frustrating."
With David Ngog doubtful for Sunday's trip to Birmingham City, Roy Hodgson can only call on Ryan Babel and 19-year-old Dani Pacheco to ease the burden on Fernando Torres, and the Kop boss is calling on the starlet to step up to the plate in Kuyt's absence.
"I thought Dani did very well when he came on against Manchester City in the five or six minutes he played," said Hodgson.
"I also thought he did very well when he came on against Trabzonspor and he made a difference. He is a player that we really believe in.
"He is young but it is great that can keep giving him these opportunities and moments on the field and I think these moments will get even longer as the season progresses."
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JOHN C, BELFAST around 1 year, 5 months ago