Manager wants striker to have another assessment in Spain...

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is reluctant to risk Fernando Torres in first-team action until he has had another assessment of his sore knee — but might have to wait until the cloud of volcanic ash covering Europe disappears before he can get his wish.

The 50-year-old, who celebrated his birthday on Friday, wants the striker to meet again with Dr Ramon Cugat, the specialist who assessed his knee earlier in the week.

But the volcanic ash cloud, which originated from an Icelandic volcano and has kept flights grounded across the UK, has also prevented Torres travelling back to Spain to visit Dr. Cugat.

With the Reds set to play West Ham United on Monday, Benitez doesn't want to play the 26-year-old until Cugat has given the all-clear.

"We had some problems with the flights so we have kept him here but he needs to see the specialist," said Benitez in his Friday press conference..

"Talking with him before he was thinking about West Ham and the rest of the games but against West Ham I think it will be difficult.

"Everything is fine but we have to wait for the diagnosis and we've had to delay the meeting with the doctor.

"If the flight is available he has to go and see the specialist to make sure everything is fine."

If he misses the game against the Hammers, Torres will be anxious to be available for Thursday's Europa League semi-final against his former club, Atletico Madrid.

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