IT’S been a sabbatical Luis Suarez neither wanted nor felt he deserved – but Didi Hamann believes a dark cloud for the Liverpool striker will have a silver lining.

The Uruguayan is set to make his comeback for the Reds against Tottenham at Anfield on Monday night after serving his controversial eight-match ban for racially abusing Patrice Evra.

Suarez hasn’t kicked a ball in anger since the home clash with Blackburn Rovers on Boxing Day.

For the past six weeks the frontman has been forced to take a break. He has continued to train with the squad at Melwood but on matchdays he’s been reduced to cheering Kenny Dalglish’s men on from the directors box.

Anfield legend Hamann is relishing the prospect of seeing Suarez back in action. And the former German international expects Liverpool to reap the benefits of the 25-year-old being able to recharge his batteries after a gruelling schedule.

“It’s going to be great to see Suarez back and I think he will be a big player for Liverpool between now and the end of the season,” Hamann said.

“I honestly think this time on the sidelines could be a blessing in disguise for him.

“Over the past couple of years he’s played so many matches. There was the World Cup in 2010 and then the Copa America last summer so he hasn’t really had a proper break. He performed so well at the start of this season and then looked a little tired.

“Now he’s had the chance to refresh himself and he will come back stronger. After everything that has happened he will want to prove a point.”

Suarez will be returning to a squad high on confidence after the Reds followed up reaching the Carling Cup final by knocking Manchester United out of the FA Cup last weekend.

Their push for Champions League qualification was then boosted by Wednesday’s 3-0 victory at Wolves. Hamann believes Suarez’s team-mates deserve praise for rising to the challenge in his absence.

“Before Suarez got banned everyone was saying it was a one-man team and that Liverpool relied too much on him,” he added. “But over the past month they have shown they can compete with the best teams in the league without him. That should give everyone confidence.

“Having him back is a major boost. With Craig Bellamy, Andy Carroll and Dirk Kuyt all scoring goals at the moment, Kenny has got options now.

“You don’t know whether it’s the right thing to do when you publicly criticise players like the manager did after the defeat to Bolton, but it looks like it was.

“The players have responded with three great results. They have another really big game against Spurs at Anfield on Monday and hopefully they can maintain their momentum.

“Liverpool look like they are coming good at the right time.”

There are concerns about the treatment Suarez will get from rival fans when he returns.

But Hamann insists the striker will be able to cope and says it’s time the damaging race row was consigned to history.

“Everyone should move on and let Suarez do his talking on the pitch,” he said.

“You have to give him some credit. He admitted saying that word straightaway. It would have been easy to say nothing and there wouldn’t have been any evidence against him.

“Suarez won’t be worried about other fans. You don’t get to where he is without being mentally strong.”

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