Glen Johnson has returned from Belgrade and is preparing to play for Liverpool in their match against Manchester City on Saturday.

Johnson is one of the many Barclays Premier League players who have chosen to take up the controversial horse-placenta remedy in Serbia, said to be effective in resolving hamstring and calf problems.

The full-back returned to Merseyside on Thursday and manager Rafa Benitez is optimistic that he will be fit enough to play against the Sky Blues.

Benitez, speaking to The Sun, chose to shield his young right-back from his critics.

The Kop boss said: "I am surprised everybody is still asking about Glen because he is one of the best in Europe.

"When you analyse the strengths and weaknesses in his game he is really good and the problems he has are not as bad as people think.

"Going forward he is a threat and we have to develop his defence and improve on a bit of everything.

"But when you talk with him about something, he knows and tries to do it. You can't change everything in one second so he will improve."