Brendan Rodgers’ confirms Fabio Borini's Liverpool return in the summer

Fabio Borini

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has claimed that Fabio Borini will come back to the club in the summer after a successful season with Sunderland.

The Italian has become a cult figure at Sunderland during his loan spell after huge goals against Newcastle, Manchester United and a Capital One Cup final goal versus Manchester City.

He signed for Liverpool at the start of last season but injuries and the form of Luis Suarez and then Daniel Sturridge prevented him from playing often. He was sent on-loan to Sunderland last summer and has got to grips with English football.

“Fabio went out to get games, go on loan and play more regularly than he was playing here,” Rodgers said to reporters gathered at Melwood for his pre-Sunderland press conference.

“He has done that and showed with some of the goals he has scored – particularly against the big teams – the qualities that he has. The goal he scored in the Capital One Cup final was a fantastic goal.

“He has gone away to get experience of playing. Fabio will come back in the summer and he will be better for having played that season. And we’ll review it from there.”

Rodgers also touched on why he sent Borini to Sunderland in the first place.

“I just felt at the time that he needed to play. I felt it was important for him to go and get games, and get games regularly.

“He has played as a striker, played wide and played in pressure games, and he has done very well. As a young player, I felt it was important for him to do that. Hopefully, in the future, Liverpool will benefit from it.”

Only Adam Johnson (7) has scored more league goals for Sunderland than Borini (3) this season.