Liverpool's Glen Johnson to be back in "next couple of weeks"

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers believes that defender Glen Johnson will be back to full fitness in the next couple of weeks.

The 29-year-old suffered a high ankle sprain during the Reds' 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the Premier League at the start of this month.

"Glen is the type of player that you don't realise until he's not in the team, what you are missing," Liverpool's official website quotes Rodgers as saying.

"He is athletic and he started the season very, very well. Against Manchester United he was outstanding.

"He's got the boot off his foot and he is working very hard. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks he will be back."

Johnson joined Liverpool from Portsmouth in 2009.