Red's Aquilani 'frustrated' over limited action

London: Rafael Benitez's reluctance to give Alberto Aquilani, Liverpool's £20-million (Dh120 million) signing from Roma, the playing time he needs to regain his fitness after over six months on the sidelines has left the player deeply frustrated, according to his father.

Aquilani was declared free of his ankle injury more than a month ago but has managed just 26 minutes of competitive action, all as a late substitute, for his new club despite Benitez's side winning just three of their past 11 games.

The Liverpool manager has confessed he is wary of risking Aquilani in finely balanced games because of his lack of match fitness.

Sources close to the player insisted the relationship between the two remained "excellent," but the Italian international's father, Claudio, admitted his son had found it difficult to accept life as a permanent substitute.

"Alberto is available to play," said Claudio, a paramedic at Roma. "He has been ready for more than a month. He feels good, the injury has cleared up and he is confident he is at no more risk than any other player of the problem coming back.

"The only way he can get fit is to start games. There has been a lot of frustration for him, first at being injured and then at not being chosen to play for so long.

"He is a player, so of course he does not want to wait to be involved with the team and to start his career in England.

"I do not know why Benitez has chosen not to play him, but that is an issue for Alberto. He must convince the coach he has to play."