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Mario Balotelli is trying to kick-start his goalscoring form – by wearing Luis Suarez’s shin pads, writes Neil Moxley in the Sunday People.

Liverpool striker Balotelli is hoping that a bit of the South American’s magic will rub off after asking the Barcelona forward if he can wear them.

When Suarez departed for Catalonia after agreeing a £75million deal with the Spanish side, he forgot to take his shin guards with him.

And Balotelli, desperate to improve on the form which has seen him score just four times in 23 appearances for the Reds, spied them at the club’s Melwood training base.

Luis Suarez's Liverpool career in pictures:

He telephoned Suarez to ask if it was OK to use them – and the former Anfield hit-man was delighted to give the 24-year-old Italian the go-ahead.

The striker was back in England this week as Luis Enrique’s men defeated Manchester City 2-1 at the Etihad on Tuesday.

And a source revealed: “Luis was in great form and only too happy to help when he received the call from Mario.”