Steven Gerrard: Liverpool FC fans should support Lucas Leiva

May 15 2009 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

Lucas Leiva, LFC _300

STEVEN GERRARD is confident Lucas Leiva can prove the doubters wrong and forge a successful career at Liverpool.

Gerrard, the newly-crowned Footballer of the Year, has been impressed by the manner in which the Brazilian youngster has stepped in throughout the campaign.

With Xabi Alonso absent at West Ham United on Saturday, Lucas was quietly effective in the central defensive midfield role alongside Javier Mascherano.

The 22-year-old came in for criticism from sections of the Anfield crowd earlier in the campaign, and upset supporters with his sending-off in the FA Cup derby defeat to Everton in February.

But Gerrard believes Lucas, a £6million signing from Gremio in July 2007, is consistently repaying the faith of Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez.

“Lucas has had criticism from people, and for me that’s unfair,” said Gerrard. “He’s a young lad still learning his trade.

“He does a lot of hard work that goes unnoticed in this team by many people, but we as players notice it.

“He’s come in to a lot of big games where the manager has basically said to him ‘it’s sink or swim’. And for me he has swam.

“He’s done very well for us when he’s been called upon, and he’s certainly got a bright future here.”

Lucas has become the latest Liverpool player to voice his approval of Gerrard being named Footballer of the Year earlier this week.