Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish is looking forward to enjoying many more years of Steven Gerrard after the captain returned to goalscoring ways in the 3-1 win at home to Newcastle.
The England midfielder came off the bench just before the hour for only his second appearance after two months out with an ankle infection.
He scored a brilliantly-taken goal for Liverpool's third, producing a trademark run from deep to collect Jordan Henderson's pass and roll home a left-footed shot from a tight angle.
That goal sealed the win after Craig Bellamy had scored either side of half-time against his former club to cancel out Daniel Agger's 25th-minute own goal.
Gerrard's impact was clearly visible when he came on and Dalglish acknowledged that was something he was looking forward to seeing on a regular basis for some time to come.
"When Steven's not playing he's influential so I suppose you can add the word hugely influential when he is in the team," said the Scot.
"He's getting back to fitness which is fantastic reward for him and everyone who has worked with him to get him back to the level he's at now.
"He's always been a huge asset for the football club and he's got a lot of years to go yet and we'll look forward to that.
"He's put the pressure on himself now, scoring a goal but it's great to see him getting his reward.
"He's worked really hard to get where he is. It was a freak injury really, so the boy deserves a bit of luck in 2012."
Gerrard admitted yesterday this year has been a tough one, having missed the end of last season and the start of the current campaign after having groin surgery in March.
Now he is focusing on the future.
"It's good to be back. I've had a terrible year with a lot of injuries but I just want to look forward," he told Sky Sports 1.
"I'm delighted to get on the scoresheet and getting three points was a perfect return. It's great to be back.
"I think of late we haven't got what we deserved, we've put a lot of pressure on teams, played well and come away without maximum points, so it's really pleasing to get three points and also score three goals, because we've had a bit of criticism for not scoring enough goals."
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew felt the match hinged on two incidents within close proximity in the second half.
Cheik Tiote gave away a cheap free-kick when he fouled Agger and Bellamy curled home the set-piece, but the Magpies went down the other end and only Martin Skrtel's goalline clearance prevented Demba Ba equalising.
"I thought it was a tough call on us because I think Cheik played the ball and we followed that up with an error," said Pardew.
"We had control of the game and if we had been a little more positive we could have got something out of the game.
"Even at 2-1 when it looked like the game might get away from us we had a great moment with a fantastic pass and finish for Demba (Ba) and the defender (Skrtel) has had to do terrifically well to stop us getting in the game.
"Those two key moments were where the result lay for me."
