Aurelio hoping injury hell is over

The Carling Cup may lie a distant fourth in Liverpool¿s list of priorities but as far as Fabio Aurelio is concerned all that glitters is gold.

The Brazilian is set to make his first start of the season when the Reds face Leeds United in a mouth-watering third-round clash at Elland Road tonight.
 
Aurelio missed all of pre-season and the opening five matches of the campaign after injuring his knee while back home in South America this summer.
 
But the 29-year-old has battled his way back to fitness and after brief substitute appearances against Debrecen and West Ham he is relishing the chance to get 90 minutes under his belt.
 
Aurelio knows the Carling Cup offers an opportunity for those currently on the fringes to stake a claim for a place in Rafa Benitez's first choice line up.
 
And the left-back is determined to ensure the Reds enjoy an extended run in this season's competition.
 
"I'm really happy to be back playing and to be part of the squad for matches again is great," he said.
 
"I hope to start at Leeds and I'm sure there will be opportunities in this game for players who haven't been used in Premier League games much recently.
 
"Every opportunity you get you need to show something to the boss and I have to take this chance. Hopefully I can do my job and help us get through.
 
"We want to progress in every competition we're involved in. The Carling Cup offers a possibility for us to win a trophy and we can't allow that chance to pass easily.
 
"It might not be the most prestigious competition but it's still very important to us and we want to go all the way."
 
Aurelio has been playing catch-up since he underwent surgery in Brazil during the close season.
 
He damaged cartilage in his left knee while playing football with his family on holiday and it's been a long road to recovery.
 
"It has been a tough few months for me but at least I haven't missed many games," he said.
 
"I've been training hard at Melwood and to finally get back out there on the pitch was a moment of happiness for me.
 
"My knee is fine now and I just need to build up my match fitness.
 
"I'm not yet back to the level I was at last season but the game against Leeds is a chance to get some more minutes under my belt."
 
In Aurelio's absence, Argentine youngster Emiliano Insua has made the left-back slot his own this season.
 
Insua is likely to be rested tonight but Aurelio knows he faces a real battle over the coming months to regain his number one billing.
 
"Emiliano has been doing really well," he said.
 
"Everyone knows his ability and since the start of the season he has done a very good job for the team.
 
"It will be a hard fight for that place this season but the fact we have more options now helps the team to be stronger.
 
"If we all keep working hard then it will be a difficult decision for the manager."
 
Tonight will be the first meeting between the clubs since goals from Harry Kewell and Milan Baros earned the Reds a 2-2 draw at Elland Road in the Premier League in February 2004.
 
Having sold off their prized assets to pay off mounting debts, Leeds were relegated that summer and serious financial problems saw them tumble into the third tier of English football for the first time in 2007.
 
Life in League One, alongside the likes of Yeovil and Exeter, is a world away from the heady heights of their Champions League semi-final with Valencia in 2001, but after a dramatic fall from grace Leeds appear to be on the way back up.
 
In the past two years they have suffered play-off heartache but Saturday's 4-1 victory over Gillingham moved them clear at the top.
 
Bossed by former Leicester City defender Simon Grayson, they have registered 15 successive home wins and will be roared on by a 38,000 sell-out crowd tonight.
 
"They might be two divisions below us but we know all about their history," Aurelio said.
 
"We know they are doing really well this season and are very strong at home.
 
"Their confidence will be high and we have to be prepared for a very hard game."
 
Leeds boss Grayson had banned any talk of the Cup tie against the Reds until after they had faced Gillingham but he admits his players can't wait to test themselves against Benitez's side.
 
"There have been some classic games between Leeds and Liverpool over the years - like Tony Yeboah's famous goal and Mark Viduka scoring four times," he said.
 
"That's in the past and this is Liverpool in the Premier League against Leeds in League One but we'll try and replicate what some of our former teams have done against them.
 
"We go into every game thinking we can win it, although we're unsure of what team Liverpool are going to put out. I don't expect them to play the same team as they did at the weekend, but whoever they bring in, they'll be very strong.
 
"Liverpool will put out a team that they think can win the match and we'll be sending out a team who we hope can cause an upset.
 
"I'm fully aware of what's in front of us but we can go out and enjoy ourselves. Liverpool are a world class side so it's a massive challenge for us but one we're relishing. We want to get back to playing these teams regularly in the next three or four years."