Unusual treatment draws converts, controversy

Yossi Benayoun and fellow midfielder Albert Riera were due to be out for another two weeks with hamstring problems, but ultimately received playing time in yesterday's draw at Anfield due to a controversial, still unproven treatment using fluids extracted from a horse placenta.

Liverpool coach Rafael Benitez was so pleased with the treatment he sent defenders Fabio Aurelio and Glen Johnson to Serbia as well.

"You know people have talked about them going to Serbia for special treatment and that's true," Benitez said this weekend. "We had a lot of reports of international players going there, so we sent some players."

"There are other names from different teams who have been doing this treatment for seven years. It is a curative program for players with muscle injuries and it works well," said the Spaniard.

The clinic, run by physiotherapist Mariana Kovacevicrun, has received criticism for using such a sensitive organ in medical treatment. The placenta connects the fetus to the uterine wall in mammals. Fresh samples of the organ are rich in stem cells, which can develop into different types of tissue like muscle and bone.

Kovacevicrun's procedure involves massaging cream into the affected area and although it is still not universally accepted in medical circles, Benitez is convinced of its merits.

Yesterday, British media reported that Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard has also flown to Serbia for treatment on the torn thigh muscle he suffered training with England ahead of last weekend's friendly with Brazil.

Arsenal's Robin Van Persie has visited Kovacevic for treatment on the ankle ligaments he damaged playing for the Netherlands last Saturday.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told reporters at a news conference that while he was happy to let Van Persie experiment, he was sceptical of the impact of alternative medicine. "It's not injected," he said. "I leave that responsibility to my medical people. I ask is there any danger to do it, they say no, I say 'OK, let's let him go' and that's it."