Rafa warns Aquilani that he must bide his time to be unleashed on the Premier League

Source: Echo.co.uk

Rafa Benitez today urged Alberto Aquilani to bide his time as he looks for the perfect place to give the Liverpool midfielder his first start.

Anticipation has been building over the past month about when Benitez will finally unleash Aquilani from the beginning of a game after two encouraging substitute appearances.

The Italian international has battled to overcome a serious ankle injury ever since he arrived on Merseyside but has now reached the stage where he is almost ready for action.

Benitez, not surprisingly, is itching to see Aquilani link up with skipper Steven Gerrard and is adamant Liverpool will be a different side when the two men are working in tandem.

But, at the same time, Benitez knows it would be unwise to push the 25-year-old into action before he is ready, as it could lead to all the good work that has been done unravelling.