KENNY DALGLISH will spend most of his 60th birthday today at Liverpool’s Melwood training ground preparing for Sunday’s visit of Manchester United.

Six months ago such a prospect would have seemed fanciful after the Scot’s claims for a second stint in charge at the place he calls home were ignominiously turned down by the previous Anfield regime.

But there are very few people still around, those who remember and even experienced the Boot Room era, who understand the club, who ‘feel’ the club and its links with history and the community, more than Dalglish.

In his first spell in charge as manager, having taken over from Joe Fagan in the summer of 1985 while still an important first-team player, he showed how in tune he was with the workings at Anfield by winning three first division championships and two FA Cups.

He remains the last manager to bring the title back to Anfield (in 1990) and the hope is he can restore those former glories if given the chance to do so on a longer-term basis beyond his temporary appointment until the end of the season.

Much was made of his absence from the game, with more than a decade spanning his departure from Celtic and his installation as Roy Hodgson’s successor in January.

However, he is confident his previous experience remains relative and he has the backing of former team-mate Ian Rush, with whom he formed one of the deadliest strike partnerships in the world

“Kenny knows everything there is to know about the club and his philosophy is the club’s philosophy – attacking, positive, winning football,” said Liverpool’s record goalscorer.

“He knows what it means to represent Liverpool Football Club and he’s instilled that into the players.

“If a few of the players didn’t quite realise how privileged they are to get to pull on the Liverpool shirt, they certainly do now.

“Kenny Dalglish has excellent man-management skills.”

Despite their on-field relationship Rush did not receive any favours as a player when the Scot took over as manager.

Rush was sold to Juventus in 1987, although within 15 months he was back at Anfield after Dalglish did not hesitate to lure him back when he had the opportunity.

“I was happy there but Kenny rang me and offered me a chance to come back and I decided to take it,” the striker added. “Not many people get the chance to come back and when I was offered it I thought I’d take that chance.”

Rush returned to find additional competition in the form of John Aldridge, the player signed to replace him when he left for Italy.

And Dalglish showed he was capable of making difficult decisions when he left Rush out of the starting line-up for the all-Merseyside 1989 FA Cup final against Everton.

Rush had been injured in the build-up and even though he declared himself fit, Dalglish left him on the bench.

It was a move which paid off as both men scored in a 3-2 win.

“No one is bigger than the club and Kenny did the right thing for me,” said Rush. “I had the energy to make a difference but if I’d started I might not have been able to.”

Another former team-mate, Craig Johnston, also praised Dalglish’s management style.

“There’s no schoolteacher in Kenny,” said the Australian. “A lot of managers in the modern game talk about football as if it’s some kind of exact science when it isn’t.

“The only thing that is certain is that you won’t achieve success if you don’t try hard. Kenny demands 100% from everyone who works with him and is uncompromising when it comes to effort.

“That’s what made him the player and the manager he is. He not only had talent, but he was a hard worker as well.”

Considering the type of person Dalglish is, it will be Manchester United rather than a milestone birthday which occupies his thoughts on his big day.