Roy Hodgson hails Gerrard's commitment

Gerrard returned for his first day of pre-season training at Melwood this morning and immediately spoke of his excitement at the prospect of linking up with new signing Joe Cole and just how impressed he had been with the new manager's plans for the season.

"It's a great piece of news," Hodgson told LFC TV at the club's Swiss training camp. "There won't be anyone in Liverpool today who isn't delighted to hear that.

"I'm really pleased about it because I've got great respect for Steven Gerrard.

"He's a player who I was really looking forward to working with when I came to Liverpool. It seems now with that commitment that this will happen.

"It gives everyone a boost without question.

"It will be a tough season, with a lot of matches and the disappointment of last season is going to take a while to dissipate, but it is very good that our best player is still going to be playing at this club.

"Hopefully with the signing of Joe Cole - and if we are lucky one or two others, to boost the squad - we will be going into this season's competition, maybe stronger on paper than we were last season."