No date for Gerrard return but he’s getting closer

It seems like a long time since Steve Gerrard was a regular in the Liverpool side and it seems the club don’t know when that will change either.

The powerhouse midfielder has only played 10 Premier League games for the Reds in 2011, with his last appearance coming at the end of October in a 1-1 draw with Norwich.

Gerrard is out with an infected ankle and the earlier part of this year was ruined by a groin injury. Unfortunately for Liverpool fans and Kenny Dalglish, there doesn’t seem to be any date for the England international’s return just yet.

"Steven is progressing and training really well. Everybody is delighted with his progress, so that is positive as well," Dalglish said today.

"We'll wait and see [if he's available for Villa on Sunday]. We won't set any targets for Sunday that we won't reach. When he's ready he'll be ready. It's fantastic for him that he's progressing as well as he is and great for us as well."

That hints at the fact that Gerrard may be back sooner rather than later and they could do with him back with Lucas Leiva out for the season.

Liverpool have been coping without the influence of Gerrard but they are suffering from a lack of goals so the sooner their goal-scoring midfielder back the better their push for the top four will be.