A WEEK into his new job and Roy Hodgson will have a better idea of the challenges he now faces.

With a club record 12 players on World Cup duty this summer – 13 if we include new signing Milan Jovanovic – the Liverpool manager has had a first opportunity to cast his eye over the fringe squad; the stay behinds deemed too young, too old or simply not good enough to play for their countries.

While some of these could be playing for their Anfield careers on the forthcoming training camp in Switzerland, Hodgson will have the final say on whether they are good enough to play for Liverpool Football Club too.

Depending on what you choose to believe, replacements are already being lined up for many of those deemed surplus to requirements.

Meanwhile, Hodgson has set about the task of persuading those with a queue of Europe's top clubs forming at their doors that their futures lie at Liverpool.

Next, he will try to convince the supporters that his does too.

As Hodgson embarks on the first phase of his restructuring programme, the greatest challenge in what is the biggest job of his long and diverse managerial career awaits.

If Hodgson is to succeed at Anfield he has to win over the Kop.

It goes without saying that the best way to do so is by bringing success back to the club.

It’s an obvious claim to make but one that may not be so obvious in his immediate remit.

Chairman Martin Broughton was candid enough to reinforce the notion that Hodgson has been brought to Liverpool ‘to steady the ship’ after turbulent times.

Of course, this will come naturally to a man who has carried an air of calm throughout his 34 years in management.

There is a fear among some, though, that returning Liverpool among Europe's elite is Hodgson's only brief.

With that comes added concern that his appointment is a short term measure with little more than stability in mind.

That would be a disservice to Hodgson, the fans and the club.

At 62, the three-year contract Hodgson has signed will take him neatly up to retirement age.

By agreeing to take on a job of this magnitude, however, you sense that’s the last thing on his mind.

The question is how much fire does he have left in his belly to stoke the burning ambitions of those who desire silverware each year.