Liverpool defender Martin Kelly has insisted that he is prepared to be patient as he waits for his chance this season.

The 23-year-old returned from a long-term knee injury in last month's League Cup defeat against Manchester United, but has not appeared for the Reds since.

"You have to have a lot of patience in football as well as knowing when you are given your chance you have to take it," he told PA.

"It has taken a long time to get back to full fitness. I feel really strong physically now and I am biding my time to get my chance and grab it with both hands.

"It has taught me to look after myself in terms of what my body needs to cope with demands of the Premier League and over the past 12 months [I have been] getting myself to a physical condition which will cater for that and I'm raring to go to get that chance."

Kelly made his first-team debut for Liverpool in 2009.