Boss Houllier set to leave hospital in next 24 hours
Encouraging signs for manager Gerard Houllier.
By Paul Brown
Gerard Houllier looks set to be discharged from hospital in the next 24 hours after positive scan results.
Houllier has been given the green light to leave Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital just eight days after being admitted.
Assistant boss Gary McAllister said that the encouraging medical reports have persuaded doctors to allow Houllier to return home - but not before his players visit him.
He said: "He is feeling fantastic. Obviously all the guys have been visiting him. The players are looking to go up and see him today.
"But the facts are, as we speak, that he has just come through a scan which has been very, very successful. The doctors are really, really pleased.
"He is going to be discharged within the next 24 hours so the news couldn't be better for Gerard as far as what has happened.
"The news from the scan has convinced the doctors he is fit enough to go home."
McAllister insists Houllier will be advised on his future by medical experts.
Despite not talking to the manager about his future, his own gut feeling is that he'll be back in the hotseat - but not before he has fully recovered.
He continued: "Of course, it is something he will be advised on by the specialist and the doctors - they'll be guiding him - but I know Gerard and I know his love of the game.
"I remember he found his time away from football very difficult. His time with the FFF, when it wasn't 24 hours and hands-on, was very difficult.
"He just loves being involved with players day to day. My own feeling, I have not spoken to him about the matter, but he is a guy who loves the game and being involved with players. I think he will be back.
"There is still a bit to run. There's still a bit of recuperation and rest required over the immediate period. But he will be guided by the right people."
McAllister says Houllier's mood is lightened when football is the subject of choice - with the gaffer still insistent on things being done right in training.
He added: "There is a difference between the first few days when we visited him when he'd obviously been whacked by quite a bit of trauma to now when you go back in the room and he's got colour and is glowing.
"It's only natural to think about what's happening here at Bodymoor Heath because this is where he works. He has spent a lot of time here.
"His main concern is the mood, the level of training, the intensity of training. That's something he wants to keep pushing through to players in training - what you do in the week does matter. That's the way he is."
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