Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has revealed that Daniel Sturridge is some time off sealing a starting spot in the team.
The 25-year-old, who spent five months out injured, scored within 10 minutes of his return to the field in Saturday's 2-0 victory over West Ham United at Anfield.
Despite his impressive cameo at the weekend, Rodgers has claimed that the striker needs time to get back up to speed.
"He's still a bit of time off starting," the Daily Star quotes Rodgers as saying. "You saw when he came on he was still getting used to the surroundings again in the 25 minutes or so he had on the pitch so it's just about bedding him back in.
"But to know that he's there over the next few weeks when it will be about regaining his football fitness and until he's ready to start he's going to be a great asset for us off the bench."
Liverpool are in action on Wednesday night when they take on Championship side Bolton Wanderers in their FA Cup fourth-round replay.