NEWSPost India

Roy Hodgson insists players are not playing for their futures in Liverpool’s Europa League tie against Steaua Bucharest. A number of fringe squad members are set to get a run-out as a depleted party travelled to Romania. Injuries have ruled out Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher and Daniel Agger, while Hodgson opted to rest Fernando Torres, Maxi Rodriguez, Raul Meireles, Glen Johnson and Paul Konchesky.

It gives the likes of Ryan Babel, who is linked with a move in every transfer window, and Milan Jovanovic, who is still followed by rumours of a return to Standard Liege after just four months at Anfield, a chance to impress. Reserve team youngsters Dani Pacheco, Nathan Eccleston, Danny Wilson, Jack Robinson and John Flanagan have also been included in the squad. But Hodgson stressed that it would be unjust to judge individuals on their performances and in the final group game in a fortnight’s time, because so many of the club’s first-choice stars were absent.

“It would be too much to ask. I don’t think it would be fair,” he said. “I think if you are going to be judged in that way you need to be playing with a large number of the more established players. “I don’t think it is correct to judge people too much when many of them are playing together and are obviously fairly inexperienced at this level. “I wouldn’t want to say they are playing for their long-term futures but I think they have a great opportunity to show me that what I am seeing in training they are able to be produce on the field in important matches when push comes to shove.

“In the couple of games so far, away at Utrecht and Napoli, they have not let me, the club or the fans down and I hope they will continue to do that in another difficult game tomorrow.” Hodgson is confident that his players - especially the younger ones - are good enough to get a result in Romania. And he hopes it will begin to give them enough of a grounding for them to be able to progress into the first team on a regular basis. “If you are going to represent Liverpool you have to start somewhere,” he added.

“Whenever you put that red shirt on it is going to be a big ask and that will be the case against Steaua but it could easily have been against Aston Villa (on Monday). “I don’t think we should be too concerned about that. “The players we have brought to the club are players we think are capable of playing for the club and that means playing in places like Bucharest.” Steaua Bucharest striker Bogdan Stancu believes he and his team-mates will not become complacent despite the absence of Liverpool’s three major players. Stancu, top scorer in their domestic league with 12 in 17 matches, stressed they will not be distracted by a weakened side.

“It would be lethal for us to pay any attention to Liverpool’s three absentees, because they have so many skilful players who can replace them,” said the 23-year-old. “If you just picked a Liverpool side from the bench and those outside the 18-man matchday squad, you would still have a very strong team. “It would also be a huge mistake to judge them by their position in the Premier League (10th).” Steaua will qualify for the knockout stage with a victory but Stancu said they could not think about progressing just yet. “Considering where we are in the league (seventh), a victory against Liverpool and qualification for the next stage would save our year,” he added. “They have players who are worth £10million or £20million and they make up a great team.

“If we are totally committed and play as a team, if the fans fill the stadium and get behind us, we will have a chance,” he said. “A lot depends on the outcome of the other match in our group, but it would be a huge mistake to think about what will happen in Utrecht. “We have to mind our own business. Our fate is in our hands and we are well aware of that.”