Liverpool midfielder Lucas determined to regain his best form

Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva is determined to regain his full fitness and deliver the same level of performances that saw him being named as Player of the Year at Anfield for the 2010-11 season.

The Brazil international has not played since November of 2011 after suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury against Chelsea but made his return in pre-season training at Melwood last week.

''I'll be back at the same level that I was because I am working really hard to recover and the players that I have beside me will help me," Lucas told reporters. "I just have to be patient again; much of my life in Liverpool has been like that.

''I'm still in the progress of my rehab. I've been training with the team for a few days. There is still a long way to go and a lot of work to be done but I am very happy to be able to train and I'm looking forward to the new season.

''I will be trying every week to recover and to progress. It's still four or five weeks until the start of the season and our Europa League games, so it's still too early to say if I will be ready but I'm looking forward to starting the season and being able to play.''