Rodgers gives latest Liverpool injury update ahead of Bournemouth clash

Glen Johnson is set for an “indefinite” spell on the sidelines due to some niggling injuries, Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has confirmed.

The England international has been struggling with an ankle injury for some time and has also picked up a number of other problems which have ruled him out of action.

Johnson has had a real bad ankle for a period of time, and just one or two other issues that haven’t allowed him to be 100 per cent

Brendan Rodgers

Rodgers also confirmed that Liverpool will be without midfielder Lucas Leiva for a “couple of months” due to a knee injury, but revealed that defender Jon Flanagan returned to full training this week.

“We’ve got a few that have been ill this week, and one or two that have been struggling with injury,” Rodgers said ahead of Liverpool’s FA Cup fourth-round clash at Bournemouth on Saturday.

“Our latest one is Glen Johnson. Glen has played a lot of the season having been injured and really put himself out for the team, but unfortunately he’s struggled a lot with a number of injuries.

“The timeline he’ll be out will be indefinitely, really. We’ll just need to assess that and see how quickly he comes through that.

“Apart from that, it’s where we were. We have one or two coming back; young Jon Flanagan is back into the squad and has been training really well. But we’ve still got one or two that are out.”

Asked about Johnson’s injury woes, Rodgers continued: “He’s had a real bad ankle for a period of time, and just one or two other issues that haven’t allowed him to be 100 per cent.

“I think everyone has seen over many years the speed, fluency and how good he’s been, but for part of this season he’s been restricted and that’s obviously been difficult for him.”

Rodgers admitted his disappointment at the news that Brazil midfielder Lucas will be out of action for a number of months after he suffered a knee injury during Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Aston Villa.

“First of all, personally I am disappointed for Lucas because he’s been very, very important for our squad this season,” said Rodgers. “It was something that was innocuous really and has put him out for a few months.

“Hopefully he’ll get back sooner rather than later.

“He’d been in good form this season and had worked his way back into the Brazil squad. Knowing what he is like, he’ll be back sooner rather than later – and he’ll do everything in his power to get back.

“In the meantime, that leaves us short of a really good player.”