Lucas Leiva '100 Percent' Healthy, Ready To Help Liverpool Finish Strong

Lucas Leiva is desperate to make up for lost time, despite the fact Liverpool is running out of it.

Lucas declared himself 100 percent fit and ready to contribute to Liverpool’s cause Wednesday, according to LiverpoolFC.com. A groin injury has sidelined Lucas since Feb. 7, but the Brazilian midfielder says he is ready to play the full 90 minutes in Saturday’s crunch Premier League game against Arsenal.

“I feel great,” Lucas said. “Leading up to the Manchester United game, I had a full week of training as well, so it’s been two weeks of full training. I was available for the Manchester United game but probably wasn’t able to play the whole game. Now I feel 100 percent.

“Now it’s just a question of getting some minutes and training sessions, so that’s what I need and what I’m having. Leading into the Arsenal game, that’s going to be good because I will have had three full weeks of training and I’m looking forward to it.”

After watching much of the early part of the season from the bench, Lucas worked his way into Brendan Rodgers’ lineup and soon became a driving force behind Liverpool’s mid-season revival. He played in 19 of Liverpool’s 21 games between late November and early February (when he injured his groin), and the Reds only lost once with him shielding the back line.

“I was in a very good moment, probably the best moment in the last couple of years, and I had a good run of games,” Lucas said. “I need to be ready, and if I get a chance again, I need to be at the same level I was before I was injured.”

Liverpool maintained its twin pursuits of FA Cup glory and UEFA Champions League qualification during Lucas’ 10-game absence. Lucas now wants to regain his place in Liverpool’s lineup and help push it over the finish line.