Hodgson admits Torres requires attacking help

Roy Hodgson wants to lift the burden on Fernando Torres in the January transfer window but the Liverpool manager has already accepted that the striker is unlikely to get any goalscoring help until next summer.

Torres, who demolished Chelsea on Sunday with two fine finishes, will play three games in seven days with tonight's encounter at Wigan and Saturday's match at Stoke to come. Hodgson is convinced the Spain striker can cope, despite the recent knee and leg injuries he has struggled with.

However, he has heard the claims that Torres and the Liverpool captain, Steven Gerrard, cannot deal with three games in a week and has made adding goalscoring reinforcements to his squad a priority. "I do not know what we can do," said Hodgson. "[But] it is one of those things we really have to address in the January transfer window. We have a squad that is a top-table type squad in defence and midfield, but up front we are definitely short."

Glen Johnson could play tonight – the England full-back has returned to training after a minor groin problem.