Gerrard sets two-month target for comeback

Steven Gerrard believes he will be back in action within the next two months, despite fears that he could be out injured until Christmas.

The Liverpool captain and England midfielder fractured a metatarsal bone during Liverpool's 2-1 defeat by Manchester United on Monday.

Similar injuries to other players ruled them out for around four months, but Gerrard remains positive even though he will miss England's World Cup qualifying matches against Wales and Azerbaijan next month.

"As far as I'm concerned, this injury will keep me out for two months and no longer," he said yesterday. "I spoke to the surgeon and he told me it should be eight weeks. I know people are comparing my injury to others who've had a similar knock, like Wayne Rooney. But, although there are similarities, there are also differences. I'm hoping I could even get back earlier than people think.

"I've got to just lie low and rest for a while. I've got a special machine in my house I'll be using twice a day to help my recovery. It's a devastating blow for me to miss any games, but I'll still be going to the matches and supporting the lads. I'm still the captain and have a big role to play, even if I can't be out there with the lads."

Gérard Houllier, the former Liverpool manager, believes Gerrard will emerge a stronger player. "First of all it's a shame for him and it's a big blow for the club," Houllier said. "He was playing extremely well. He had scored goals and made at least two goals. But Stevie has a rebound mentality and I'm sure he'll come back even stronger."

Supporters of Nottingham Forest and Derby want the road linking the cities to be renamed after Brian Clough, who died on Monday.

Both sets of supporters, who are traditionally fierce rivals, agree that it would be fitting to name the A52 "Brian Clough Way" in honour of the manager who guided the clubs to huge success.

"It is one of several very good ideas to remember Cloughie," said Paul Ellis, the chairman of the Nottingham Forest Supporters' Club.

Nick Sellors, a spokesman for the Derby supporters' group RamsTrust, added: "He is best known for his involvement with us and our friends down the road and, although both sides have been trying to claim him for their own, he was a football god within the East Midlands.

"The road that links the two cities is the best way, we think, to remember the great man," Sellors said.

The A52 has several road names along different parts of the carriageway. The decision to rename the road would lie with the Highways Agency, which said that a change would be possible if every local government authority along the A52 agreed.