ROY HODGSON has urged Liverpool FC to make clear where the Europa League stands in the club’s list of priorities after admitting there will be no further new signings ahead of his first competitive game next week.

Hodgson is concerned about the standard of team he will be able to field for Thursday’s third qualifying round first leg against FK Rabotnicki in Macedonia.

The manager, who must inform UEFA of his matchday squad for the game by midnight tonight, has been warned by the club’s sports science department not to use any of the 13 players who appeared in the recent World Cup.

Although a youthful Liverpool team earned a creditable friendly draw with Grasshopper on Wednesday, Hodgson is pondering whether to go against the medical advice and include more senior players in the European line-up.

And the manager admits much will depend on where the club’s hierarchy place success in the Europa League in their grand scheme for the coming campaign.

“I worry about not having enough players for next week a lot,” said Hodgson. “It would be nice to have someone in before the (Europa League) deadline but it’s pretty unrealistic and I can’t see it happening.

“These will be two unbelievably difficult games for us at this stage of the season but it really depends where we put the Europa League in the grand scheme of things.

“Aston Villa last year went out very early and went on to have a very good season, especially in the early part, so it will be tough.

“If the club puts such emphasis on it and they want all our top players to play the sports scientists are telling me quite clearly that is not going to help us further down the road.

“It is a balance that not only I can sort out but it will be a decision for the club to take on.”