ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE:ROY HODGSON will ask the 18-year-old Danny Wilson to deputise for Jamie Carragher against Steaua Bucharest tomorrow after it was confirmed the Liverpool defender faces three months out with a dislocated shoulder.

Carragher suffered the injury towards the end of Liverpool’s defeat at Tottenham on Sunday and had hoped to recover through a six-week rest period. However, following a MRI scan yesterday and consultations between Liverpool’s medical department and specialists, it was decided the 32-year-old needs an operation.

The Liverpool vice-captain said: “I’ll be having surgery at the end of the week. The average is about 12 weeks. I’d like to come back before that but I’ve got to make sure it’s right. It will probably be late February or early March when I’m looking to come back.”

Dr Peter Brukner, the club’s head of sports medicine and sports science, said: “We decided it was the best option because not having the surgery leaves you with a very high risk of the dislocation happening again – probably more than 50 per cent. We weren’t prepared to take that risk.”

With Daniel Agger not expected to return from a calf injury until just before Christmas, Liverpool now have only two established centre halves available for a demanding spell – Martin Skrtel and Sotirios Kyrgiakos. Hodgson will therefore turn to Wilson, who has made only one appearance since arriving from Rangers in the summer – the League Cup embarrassment against Northampton Town – for the Europa League tie in Romania.

“Martin Kelly and Danny Wilson will start against Steaua Bucharest and it’s a great opportunity for them to stake a claim to be in the first team,” said the Liverpool manager.

Fernando Torres will be left behind for a game Liverpool need only to draw to qualify for the knockout stage.

Brukner has confirmed Steven Gerrard is on schedule to recover from a hamstring tear for the trip to Newcastle United on Saturday week.

Guardian Service