Kenny Dalglish insists Steven Gerrard will not be rushed back into the Liverpool team despite his hasty recuperation from groin surgery.

The 30-year-old was expected to be out for a month following an operation three weeks ago but he is now back training with the team at Melwood.

Asked at his pre-match press conference whether Gerrard would be involved at West Brom on Saturday, Dalglish said: "We'll have a look. He's recovered really well from the surgery he had so we'll see how he is before we decide whether he's in or out. He's certainly done a lot of training this week - not all the training the other lads have done, but a lot of it.

"But two weekends ago at Sunderland wee Jay (Spearing) played really well. There is no need for us to be in a rush to bring Steven back."

Another topic of discussion in the Melwood press room was Andy Carroll scoring his first England goal in a friendly draw with Ghana on Tuesday.

Dalglish thinks playing just under 60 minutes for his country will have done Carroll's quest for match fitness no harm at all.

"It's a great milestone for Andy to score his first goal, especially at Wembley," said the boss. "It's a great reward for him as well after his recuperation. It will give him a lift, kick him on further and it's a great reflection of how he's got on with his work and how our medical team has worked to get him there.

"Andy will have been quite happy yesterday morning when he woke up.

"He's got a wee bit to go before getting up to match fitness but he came in here for five-and-a-half years, not two months.

"As Fabio Capello said, he's not going to get fit as quickly as an Aaron Lennon, but we'll be patient and when he's ready he's ready.

"The 60 minutes he got for England was very helpful in his recuperation and his fight to get back to full fitness.

"The way England treated our players was fantastic: the way they gave Andy the hour because they knew it wouldn't be beneficial to play him longer, and the way they gave Glen Johnson 45 minutes because he had a slight problem with his Achilles. They were very professional and respectful with the way they treated both of our players."

Click on the play button below to watch Kenny's press conference

Dalglish refused to be drawn into a debate as to whether Carroll should be called up for England U21s ahead of the European Championships this summer.

Our record signing is 22 - but eligibility for the tournament depends on how old a player was at the start of the year when qualification started.

"We'll wait and see if he's picked first," said the boss. "I don't think I need to answer the question before the actual thing has happened."

Dalglish was also quizzed on Capello's comments this week about Carroll focusing on football.

"Is that not his job - football?" replied the Liverpool manager. "It's what I'd expect him to focus on. To get to where he is he's done fantastically well. Andy Carroll is focused on his football."

Carroll's presence gives Liverpool's attack a new, more physical dimension.

On whether his players need to be careful not to play too many long balls, Dalglish said: "Sometimes when you're struggling a wee bit it's a great asset to have but we've got to pick and choose our moments.

"It's up to us to get to know Andy, and Andy to get to know us. I don't think we've done too badly in the game and a bit he's played for us. We were better the second time than we were the first.

"We've got intelligent lads here and I'm sure they'll work out when's right and when's wrong and they'll get it right most of the time."

Elsewhere on the injury front, Martin Kelly and Fabio Aurelio have had setbacks in their recovery from hamstring strains.

Dalglish said: "Everyone has come back from international matches okay. Martin Kelly picked up an injury while he was trying to recuperate and Jonjo Shelvey is back training. Kelly has just had a wee recurrence in the same area.

"Fabio Aurelio has had a setback as well but it isn't the same injury. He should be training before the end of the week."