Football: Lucas to take scouting role

25-year-old midfielder is facing up to three months on sidelines after suffering the problem in the Premier League.

Injured Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva has been given a scouting role by manager Brendan Rodgers while he recovers from a thigh injury.

The 25-year-old midfielder is facing up to three months on the sidelines after suffering the problem in the Premier League match against Manchester City on August 26. The injury came as a cruel blow to Lucas, who had only just returned from a seven-month lay-off with cruciate knee ligament damage, according to ESPN. Rodgers believes this new role could help keep Lucas’ spirits up as he recovers. "We will keep his spirits up and I'm going to use him to go out and look at some games for me with my analyst,” said Rodgers. “Tactically, he's very good. I want to make sure that he stays in the game. I put that idea to him and he thought it was good."

Published in The Express Tribune, September 9^th, 2012.