Houllier pleads for Pongolle patience

While it had been thought that Milan Baros's enforced injury lay-off, coupled with Neil Mellor's year-long loan at West Ham, would give the former Le Havre forward his first-team opportunity, Houllier has insisted that his young compatriot must first acclimatise to his new surroundings before he can follow the impressive Anthony Le Tallec into the first-team.

Houllier said: "Florent reminds me very much of Milan when we first brought him to England. But it takes a long time for a striker to settle into the English gamne, I can tell you that.

"Anthony Le Tallec had a very good game for the reserves against Leeds and has been doing very well, but it's different for him because he plays in a different position."