Luis Suarez salutes fans on Anfield return
The 26-year-old Uruguayan was forced to train on his own after declaring that he wanted to leave the club, but he returned to training with his team-mates on Friday after reportedly apologising to the squad.
- Agence France-Presse
- Updated: August 17, 2013 05:40 PM IST
Unsettled Liverpool striker Luis Suarez made his return to Anfield on Saturday, saluting fans from beside the pitch prior to his side's opening Premier League game against Stoke City.
The 26-year-old Uruguayan was forced to train on his own after declaring that he wanted to leave the club, but he returned to training with his team-mates on Friday after reportedly apologising to the squad.
Suarez arrived at Liverpool's home ground around an hour before kick-off and received a short burst of applause from fans already inside the stadium when he appeared beside the pitch carrying his daughter, Delfina.
He shook hands with former referee Mark Halsey, present to fulfil media duties, before disappearing down the tunnel, re-emerging 10 minutes later to walk to the executive boxes on the opposite side of the ground.
Suarez is suspended for the first six matches of the new season after biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic during a league game at Anfield in April.
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says he is not willing to discuss Suarez's situation until he is available for selection, but he confirmed that the striker has returned to full training with his team-mates.
Speaking to BT Sport prior to kick-off, Rodgers said: "He's back in the group, he's smiling and happy, and we'll move on."