Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers says that Mario Balotelli understands what he has to do to put himself back in contention for a spot in the first team.
Rodgers left Balotelli out of his matchday squad for yesterday's 0-0 FA Cup draw against Bolton Wanderers at Anfield, raising eyebrows as many had assumed the Italian, fully fit, would be selected.
Balotelli has still not scored for Liverpool in the Premier League since being signed by the Reds for £16m from AC Milan in the summer. And he is now struggling to even make the bench.
But Rodgers says the Italian is well aware of what he must do, being quoted as saying by the BBC: "He knows exactly what is required to be in this squad before he can be in the team."
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And the 24-year-old must shape up in training to impress Rodgers into handing him a chance.
"I am judging it every day in training – Mario is exactly the same as every other player, there is no special treatment for anyone.
"Fabio Borini and Rickie Lambert are working tirelessly in training and when they go on they have contributed and young Jordan Rossiter, on the bench today, has been brilliant in training and I have to judge it on that.
"If you want to contribute you have to be at it every single day in training in order to be in the squad on matchday."
Balotelli will be hoping for the nod as Liverpool attempt to book a spot in the League Cup final in their next match, as they take on Chelsea in the second leg of their semi-final tie at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday evening.
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