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Liverpool are under a transitional period under Brendan Rodgers, with new players arriving at Anfield, and a push to get back into the top four reckoning. One such player brought to Merseyside in an attempt to bring back the glory days was Fabio Borini, the highly rated Italy international. However, after poor form and repeated injuries, will the Reds look to cut their losses this summer?
The 21-year-old looked like an astute signing when Rodgers brought him to England in the summer. The Northern Irish boss had worked with Borini at Swansea in a successful period in Championship football, and since then the forward was making waves in his homeland. A solid season for Roma returned nine Serie A goals and a claim for inclusion in the Azzurri national team.
With solid goalscoring records at age-grade level for Italy at under-19 and 21 levels, Borini looked to have all the attributes to make him a hit at Liverpool. However, the Kop were not impressed by their new striker at the start of the campaign, with Liverpool relying on Luis Suarez as a solitary outlet to bring goals.
Since then two long-term injuries have kept Borini out of action and on the treatment table. However, a Liverpool squad that looked devoid of attacking options at the start of the campaign is now sufficiently bolstered. With the additions of Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge in January, and the emergence of Suso and Raheem Sterling, the Reds have more offensive impetus than at the start of 2012/13. Andy Carroll is also out on loan at West Ham and could yet return.
With this in mind, there is every chance that even if Borini does get himself fit before the end of the season, he will struggle to command a starting place in the side.
The Reds’ head of performance Glen Driscoll confirmed on the club’s website today that Borini would be back before the end of the season, saying: “Fabio Borini was outside for the first time today, so he’s starting that progression – passing balls, running and doing ball work. He’s due to be probably another six weeks from this point on. The injury he’s had is normally eight to 12 weeks. He’s quite a quick rehabilitator.
“At the moment, it’s looking pretty positive for Fabio that he could be back ahead of schedule and maybe make the end of the season.”
With Rodgers surely looking to bolster his squad further in the summer, a question mark hangs over Borini’s head. With players of superior quality in his squad, the Northern Irish manager may feel that the Italian has simply not worked out and would benefit from a move back to his homeland.
