HEGGEM MAY NEED SURGERY
The right-sided full-back has been struggling with his hamstrings for the past couple of seasons, thus limiting his chances of playing for The Reds on a regular basis.
The 25-year-old has only featured in four games this term and he has not played since the 4-0 away win over Derby in mid-October.
The injury picked up at Derby was another blow for the Norwegian ace, having seen last season severely interrupted by injury and then suffering a recurrence of the problem during Euro 2000 which ruled him out of the vital pre-season training.
Norway's medical spokesman, Lars Engebretsen, admitted that he had been considering sending Heggem for surgery, but declared that the decision rested with Liverpool.
"I've been considering letting Vegard have surgery on his hamstring, but this decision must be made by his club, Liverpool and himself," Engebretsen told Norwegian daily Dagbladet.
"Normally we don't perform surgery on hamstring injuries, but in Vegard's case, that may be the outcome."
The former Rosenborg player has also revealed that he does not know when he will be able to make a return to action, but insisted that he will keep trying to get back to full fitness.
"I can't do much else than training as hard as I can, and trying to get back on the pitch as soon as possible," said Heggem.
Meanwhile, Reds boss Gerard Houllier has praised three of the young English players in his side for the form they have been showing the season.
The Frenchman believes that the match-winner against Manchester United, Danny Murphy, can improve and possibly win a place in the England team.
"I think he will play for England," said Houllier, "Danny has made a lot of progress and now there is no way I would consider selling him. He can achieve things for us and I do think he can go on and play at international level."
Houllier was also full praise for the will to win and commitment shown by Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher who he feels epitomised the spirit of the team at Old Trafford
"I like players who compete. I like battlers," Houllier told the Liverpool Daily Post. "Jamie Carragher, for instance, he's a competitor. He embodies that.
"Steven Gerrard is a competitor. I like that sort of streak about people, being a winner, wanting to win all the time. You win with winners.
"I love competitors. They put their foot in, and they repeat that, they've got the resilience and so on."
