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Fabio Aurelio is unlikely to be fit in time for the start of the Premier League season, according to the Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez.

The 27-year-old Brazilian left-back ruptured his Achilles tendon during a Champions League tie against Dutch outfit PSV Eindhoven in April.

Benitez told the club's website www.liverpoolfc.tv: "Fabio isn't fit. It could be another month before he recovers. We knew it would be a long time when he got injured.

"He is improving, but it is not easy when you have this kind of injury." Aurelio joined Liverpool from Valencia last summer on a free transfer and made 25 appearances last season.

The former Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek is on the verge of completing a move to Real Madrid on a free transfer. The Polish goalkeeper, who was released by the Reds this summer, had also been linked with a move to Feyenoord but now looks set to move to the Bernabeu.

Dudek, who starred for Benitez's side in their 2005 Champions League triumph in 2005 revealed he was delighted by the prospect of joining the Spanish champions.

"I will fly to Spain to pass medicals [in the next 24 hours]," he said. "On the same day I will sign a contract and will be presented as a new Real player. I hope so and I am really happy with this.

"The offer from Real overshadowed all the others. I was considering a return to Feyenoord, Jacek Krzynowek was encouraging me to join him at Wolfsburg, an interesting offer from a respected newly promoted Premier League club appeared and I was also thinking of moving to Portugal.

"However, when Real showed interest I was very proud and did not think long."

The Bolton Wanderers defender Ricardo Gardner will miss the start of the season after tearing his hamstring.

The 28-year-old was carried off after coming on as a second-half substitute in Thursday's Peace Cup draw with Seongnam Ilhwa in Seoul. The Jamaica international is set to be out for six weeks.

There was some better news for the club with the announcement that Stelios Giannakopoulos, the Greek midfielder, has returned to training after a calf injury.

Hull City have completed the signing of Colchester United defender Wayne Brown for a fee of around £450,000. The 29-year-old has signed a three-year deal with Phil Brown's side.