Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez will hand Fernando Torres his first start in six weeks at Newcastle this Saturday.

The Spanish hitman, 23, is ready to begin a game for the first time since limping out at the start of October with a damaged abductor muscle.

But Kop boss Benitez is just as thrilled at the prospect of seeing rookies like Ryan Babel, 20, Lucas Leiva, 20, and Sebastian Leto, 21, in action.

Benitez said: "Our squad is good and the strength of it will become clear as the season goes on."