Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has pledged his support to flop summer signing Joe Cole.
Cole joined the Reds last year after his contract expired with Premier League champions Chelsea, but the 29-year-old has struggled to make an impact at Anfield.
The midfielder was sent off on his debut and has since been hampered by injury, and speculation about his career on Merseyside grew when he appeared for Liverpool’s second string in a county cup tie.
But Dalglish is confident Cole, who made his first appearance under the Scot’s management against Sparta Prague on Thursday night, will become a success.
He said: “We have got to be patient with Joe. That his first run out since I came here.
“That is a great start for him, to get himself on the pitch and get an hour won't do him any harm.
“Joe is a valuable asset for us. Obviously he is not going to pick his form up immediately, if he does it will be a real bonus for us.
“But we are not going to put him under pressure and expect him to be the Joe Cole who came to Liverpool in the summer.
“We want to give him a bit of time and make sure he gets there. Form is temporary, class is permanent and that is where we stand with Joe.
“We'll give him a bit of time to get up to speed and then we'll judge him. Joe needs his injury rebuilding so we'll get that right first.”