Critics need to lay off Liverpool's Fabio Borini

It is fair to say expectations at a club like Liverpool are high, just ask Andy Carroll.

He failed to impress sufficiently in his opening 18 months for the club and was ruthlessly shipped out on loan by Brendan Rodgers this summer.

The man he did manage to bring in, in attack, is young Italian forward Fabio Borini.

In all competitions he has one goal in nine games, a below par goal return, and already questions are being asked over his ability to cut it at the top level.

Such suggestions are unfair on a young player who is only 21 and is already a full Italian international.

Now this is purely my point of view, but Borini will go on to be success at Liverpool. He is adapting at present, and showing slight signs of being overawed. When he grows into his role at the club, he will begin to show what he is all about.

The basis for my opinion is not what he achieved in the Championship on loan with Swansea, but his performances for Roma last season which saw him called into the national squad. He scored 10 goals in 26 games, almost one in two, far better than his one in nine record at Liverpool so far indicates.

Clearly so far, we are not seeing the real Borini, who looks a little inhibited, and it is too early to judge him. Give him a full season at least before even considering writing him off as a failure, and even then at 21, it will be far too early. This season will be about adjustment, for he is part of Brendan Rodgers' long-term vision for the club, a player who has the ability to make valuable contributions over the coming seasons.

Perhaps the strangest thing about his performances so far this season is his often heavy touch, surprising for a player whose technique is among his qualities, which indicates nerves are playing a part at present.

He has had a tough baptism to life at Liverpool, facing three of the league's top four in Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal. Chances for the Italian have been few and far between.

In fact in five league games the player has made just nine attempts on goal, which can be compared with the 30 made by Luis Suarez.

Is that because he is not getting the right service? Not getting into the right positions? Or not confident enough to shoot on sight?

More information which may lead to an answer of all of these questions, will have to wait for now. Borini suffered a bruised ankle in United's win at Anfield on Sunday and is expected to be out for at least a fortnight.

When he returns, he will need goals to boost his confidence, but the rest may actually do him good, and allow him to come back refreshed and ready to take his career to the next level.

images: © Vincent Teeuwen