Glen Johnson admits watching Liverpool from the stands has left him feeling like the ‘worst fan ever’ – but the defender is targeting a return to full training inside the next month.

A tear to the medial ligament in his right knee sustained against Aston Villa has kept the England international sidelined since December 29.

It’s meant Johnson has been forced to watch the Reds’ recent Anfield clashes as a spectator – though it’s not something he particularly enjoys.

He explained to Liverpoolfc.tv: “I couldn’t go to the games at first because I was on crutches, but now I can go and cheer the boys on.

“I’m probably the worst fan ever, though, because I just want to be out there.

“I can feel myself jolting and trying to help, but you’ve just got to sit and watch, which is annoying.

“The lads have been fantastic and the results speak for themselves.

“We were unlucky against Arsenal, but it was a decent performance and it looks like we’ve got that ‘hard to beat’ mentality back as well.”

Johnson picked up the problem during a challenge with Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor in the Midlands and has missed a busy start to 2010 for the Reds.

While frustrated to have been unable to play a part in Liverpool’s Barclays Premier League resurgence, the No.2 acknowledges he was relieved when initial fears the injury could be more serious were quickly allayed.

He reflected: “It’s been frustrating. The worst thing for a footballer is being injured, but now I’m looking forward.

“It was strange. When I did it, it wasn’t much of a tackle, it was more the way the lad (Agbonlahor) fell on me.

“I heard something snap in my knee, so I knew it wasn’t good but I wasn’t sure how bad it would be at the time.

“The following morning, it was thought it could have been my cruciate ligament, so it was good that it wasn’t.”

After six weeks on the treatment table, Johnson’s first-team return took a step closer to fruition when the full-back began jogging recently.

And the Londoner is optimistic of joining his teammates in full training at Melwood within the next three weeks.

“I’m definitely over the worst of it now and I’m about two or three weeks away from training, so I’m getting there,” he said.

“It’s been like groundhog day – I’ve been doing the same things, working in the gym and doing stability work.

“Every day has been the same for the last two weeks, but now I’ve started to run, things can change.”

He added: “I don’t expect to walk back into the side and play, but I am doing everything I can to be in the best shape possible.”

Source: Liverpoolfc.tv