Boss: Glen in contention

Rafa Benitez today confirmed all of his international stars returned to Melwood with no fresh injury concerns and revealed Glen Johnson could be in line for a return to the Liverpool squad on Monday.

The full-back has been sidelined since December 29 after sustaining a tear to the medial ligament in his right knee against Aston Villa.

However, Johnson has resumed training with his teammates and Benitez will make a late decision on whether to include the England international in his plans for the fixture with Wigan Athletic.

"We don't have too many problems," the boss told reporters at a pre-match press conference. "We have Skrtel and Aurelio, who were already injured. The rest of the players are coming back from international duty fine.

"Johnson has been training with the team, so I will have to decide if he will be in the squad."

Liverpool's joy at the return of the likes of Johnson, Fernando Torres and Yossi Benayoun was tempered by the news of injuries to Martin Skrtel and Fabio Aurelio this week.

Skrtel picked up a broken metatarsal in his right foot against Unirea Urziceni in Romania, while Aurelio damaged a thigh muscle in the clash with Blackburn Rovers.

Benitez added: "Skrtel will have to wait, but it could be four or five weeks at least. Fabio could be two or three weeks."

Torres played the second half of Spain's friendly with France on Wednesday, having made his first start after injury for Liverpool in last weekend's victory over Blackburn.

Asked whether he felt El Nino could now be considered fully fit, the boss replied: "No, not really. One week ago he was not fully fit, so it cannot be a miracle in just one week.

"He has to keep working and he has already been working in the gym. He will need some time but he can better every week.

"He is improving but it is a question of games. Sometimes it is not just match fitness - if you can play, if you are in the right position and can score, then everything changes. It's not just the physical aspect."

Liverpool travel to the DW Stadium on Monday aiming to crank up the pressure on their top four rivals - none of whom are in Barclays Premier League action this weekend.

The Reds currently sit in sixth position, one point behind Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City, while Aston Villa are in seventh.

Benitez, however, insists Liverpool are not feeling any added pressure, even though he feels the pursuit of Champions League football could go to the wire.

He said: "There is not more pressure. It's something you have to accept when you are a top side.

"Last year were fighting to be first, or sometimes you are trying to progress in a cup competition, so it is more or less the same now.

"The only difference is you have three more teams and that is more difficult because every one can win.

"It will be difficult until the end. We have to keep going, winning games if we can, but you can see Tottenham, Aston Villa and Manchester City are doing well, so we need to be sure we don't make any mistakes because maybe we will have to keep working until the last game."

Liverpool have kept seven clean sheets in their last 10 league outings, and Benitez believes an improved rearguard action has been key to the Reds' upturn in form since Christmas.

"Working hard is something we have to do," he said. "Sometimes you can play better, or when you are not winning too many games you have to stick together and be strong in defence.

"We have improved in defence as a team. It doesn't mean you have to be more physical - you have to be stronger and show character especially. The players did this.

"We are stronger in defence, don't concede goals and that means you can win. When you have players with quality in attack, you know you will have some chances, and you have to take these chances."

The physical aspect of the Barclays Premier League has fallen under the spotlight following the horrific injury suffered by Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey against Stoke City last weekend.

Asked whether he felt teams in the lower reaches of the table are overly physical against sides at the top, the gaffer said: "The Premier League is always physical and if you want to keep going in this way, it depends on the referees in the end.

"We have to analyse carefully. It's true we have too many serious injuries. There are some people at the top and they have to decide and analyse what is best for the game.

"We would like to play more football, and sometimes it is too physical and there are too many injuries, but it is not my decision."

Benitez, though, is anticipating Roberto Martinez's Wigan to try and let their football do the talking against Liverpool on Monday.

Quizzed on how he felt Wigan's approach would differ to Sam Allardyce's Blackburn, Benitez said: "Blackburn are a fantastic club with an amazing group of fans. I don't have anything against them.

"Wigan are trying to play football. They are a mix of style - they have some physical, strong players, and some who like to play with the ball on the floor. It will be difficult.

"We have some managers trying to do this (play attractive football), but in football you have to win. Sometimes just playing nice football is not possible, or being too physical is not possible. Finding the balance is the key."

The game will see the league's two Spanish coaches lock horns, and Benitez was full of praise for compatriot Martinez.

"He is doing well," he said. "It is not easy in a team who has changed their manager, has to compete at the bottom of the table and without big, big money. I have experience in Spain of this situation.

"The main thing is to carry on and keep doing your job until the end. If you have an idea about what to do, I think it will be easier for you to achieve what you want."

The Reds boss also dismissed any notion of the Latics clash being deemed an easy three points for Liverpool, adding: "I think every game in the Premier League will be difficult. If you look at the positions in the table, you may say 'it will be easy', but we have the experience of Portsmouth so we know we have to be ready, concentrate and be really focused."

Video: Rafa faces the media ahead of Wigan clash>>