Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has been surprised by how well Philippe Coutinho has adapted to life in the Premier League.
The Brazilian midfielder has been impressive since arriving from Inter in January, scoring three goals in 13 appearances, and Rodgers has been taken aback by his start to life at Anfield.
"When you bring somebody in during January you hope they can make an impact," Rodgers told the club's official website.
"You are also looking at it as a six-month adaptation period before you get the best out of them from pre-season onwards.
"We are all pleasantly pleased and surprised by how well he has done. His numbers tell you the story in terms of goals and assists."
While Coutinho has impressed many Liverpool supporters with his flair and vision, Rodgers believes his most important attribute is his work-rate.
"At the minute, you can't ask any more. The key thing is that he works his socks off as well. He is a real team player," the Northern Irishman continued.
"He has genuine man strength. He's 20 years of age but he's not a boy. He can look after himself. His body work is great.
"The best players very rarely get tackled because they are so bright and clever. You can see he can use his body if needs be, but he has to become adapted to the physical game here as the Premier League is very physical."
