Clarke cannot wait for Stevie
Steve Clarke cannot wait to begin working with a fit again Steven Gerrard - someone he believes is one of the most complete footballers in a generation.
Liverpool's revival under Kenny Dalglish is all the more impressive because of the absence of the club's talisman.
Injuries restricted the skipper the just six starts under the new regime.
But last month Gerrard told Liverpoolfc.tv he felt as though he had a 'new groin' following surgery - and he is hopeful of being back in time for the start of pre-season in July.
"If he's speaking encouragingly about it himself then that's good news for everybody," first-team coach Clarke told us. "I'm sure he'll work hard during the summer, and if he can join us in the first stage of pre-season then that would be great. If not then he'll join us a little bit later.
"He's vitally important. Steven hasn't featured much since I came to the club. He's been in and out with a niggling problem with his groin, and hopefully the operation has cured it.
"A fit and fully firing Steven Gerrard can only improve the squad.
"He's certainly one of the most complete footballers of his generation. Over the last 10 or 12 years there have been a number of really top English players and certainly Steven is one of them.
"I've only seen little glimpses of him since I came here but he's a captain who, rather than speaking and motivating, leads by example on the pitch. I am looking forward to seeing him do that next season."
Liverpool were 12th when Dalglish was appointed manager on January 8 following the departure of Roy Hodgson.
The Scot masterminded memorable victories over both Manchester clubs as well as against Chelsea in securing a sixth-place finish.
Clarke has revealed how getting the players smiling again was key to pulling Liverpool from the mire.
"If anybody in any walk of life is happy at work then they do a better job," said Clarke. "That was one of the first things we tried to do - improve the morale of the players.
"But in football the most important thing is winning. If you can win football matches, everyone comes in with a smile on their face.
"Even those who are not involved are coming in with a good attitude. They want to be a part of it but I think if you look at the results we've got, everyone's happy. That's a great credit to the whole squad - not just the players who are playing at the weekend. It's easy for them - the difficult part is for the players who have to come in and train even though they are not quite getting time on the pitch they want.
"It's time to give them a little mention - their work has been great. Because their work is great, it carries the whole group through."