LIVERPOOL breathed a sigh of relief last night after learning that Fernando Morientes's injury is not as bad as first feared.
The striker had been thought to be facing several weeks on the sidelines after suffering a hamstring injury while on international duty with Spain.
But a scan yesterday revealed only a slight muscle rupture that could see the Spaniard returning for Liverpool's Premiership encounter against Manchester United a week on Saturday.
Spain national team doctor, Dr Genaro Borras, said: "It's an injury that we estimate will keep him out for between 10 days and a fortnight."
Morientes is however definitely out of Saturday's trip to Tottenham, as well as Liverpool's Champions League Group G opener against Real Betis next Tuesday.
And his absence is an immediate blow for Rafael Benitez after missing out on Michael Owen in the transfer window.
Benitez could now be forced to throw Peter Crouch straight into the side at White Hart Lane - where the bean-pole frontman spent two years as a trainee back in 1998.
Crouch, Liverpool's £7million summer signing from Southampton, is at last available again after a hamstring injury and suspension ruled him out of the opening games of the season.
The onus will also be on Djibril Cisse to maintain the form that turned the Super Cup final in Liverpool's favour two weeks ago. The 24-year-old suffered an ankle injury for France in the win over the Faroe Islands at the weekend but proved his fitness by playing 15 minutes for France against the Republic of Ireland last night.
Benitez's other striking options are limited. Neil Mellor is recovering from a shin operation, Harry Kewell is not back to fitness, while Florent Sinama-Pongolle has only just returned to action following his broken leg.
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