Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez hopes summer signing Alberto Aquilani's return from injury may speed up now the Italian has started running in his rehabilitation.

The Liverpool boss has now hinted the summer signing from Roma could return ahead of schedule, telling the club's official website: "He's going forward, progressing and he started running. If that goes okay then everything will go a bit faster.

But Benitez has not set a timescale for Aquilani's comeback, despite reports that the midfielder could be ready to face Sunderland in mid-October.

"We have not set a target or any time, but he's doing well," said the Spaniard.

 
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