Soccer: Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish is hopeful of having captain Steven Gerrard available at the weekend despite the midfielder missing England's friendly victory over Denmark with a groin injury.

The 30-year-old withdrew from Fabio Capello's squad after Sunday's win at Chelsea in order to have treatment at the club's Melwood training ground all week.

Dalglish would like to have Gerrard available for Saturday's visit of Wigan as his side look for a fifth successive victory but he will not decide until closer to kick-off.

"It's only Thursday so we'll find out when we get nearer the weekend - obviously we hope he will be," said the Reds boss. "At the moment there is no-one on international duty that is coming back with injury problems.

"Martin Skrtel travelled (with Slovakia) and then came back so we'll have to assess him as well. We are not training until later today so we'll see when everyone gets in."

Liverpool are likely to be without 18-year-old midfielder Jonjo Shelvey at the weekend after he sustained an injury.

"Jonjo Shelvey got a bit of bad news on his knee so we will just wait to get that finally diagnosed and see what has to be done," added Dalglish. "He has done well so it is a disappointment for everyone."

Liverpool are still without the services of club record signing Andy Carroll, with the £35million striker continuing his rehabilitation from a thigh problem sustained while he was still at Newcastle.

"Andy is progressing very well. We never gave a date and we won't put a date on it - we just said it would be a few weeks," added Dalglish. "As long as we are patient and Andy is patient we'll be okay but we won't be rushing him back."