Liverpool fear Fernando Torres’s knee injury could keep him out for the rest of the season.

The Anfield striker has been unable to travel to Barcelona to see his knee specialist because of the British ban on flying.

But the medical staff at Anfield believe Torres’s current problem may be cured only by going under the surgeon’s knife.

That would keep him out of the rest of Liverpool’s Premier League and Europa League games – and possibly the World Cup.

Reds’ boss Rafa Benitez said: “We are not sure whether he will play again this season. He needs to see the specialist and he will tell us whether Fernando needs an operation and when he will be back.”

Torres was hoping to get the all-clear to face West Ham at Anfield tomorrow. But he has been grounded by the volcanic eruption in Iceland that has made Britain a no-fly zone.

And insiders at the club are worried that only an operation will work – bringing a premature end to a season wrecked by injury.