Fowler, 32 next month, admits he is unsure of boss Rafael Benitez's plans for him when his current contract runs out at the end of the season.

But it is being assumed that Reds legend Fowler is reaching the end of his second spell with his hometown club.

Benitez will have big money to spend when the US-backed takeover of the club is completed, and has already secured 27-year-old Voronin on a Bosman free transfer from Bayer Leverkusen at the end of the current campaign.

Liverpool's fans would love to see their hero continue his swansong at Anfield and Benitez is acutely aware of the emotion that surrounds his decision on the former England man's future.

Fowler said: "I still feel I have a few years left in me yet, and I will be carrying on for a bit longer.

"I still think I've a lot to contribute as a player and I am just focusing on playing as much as I can between now and the end of the season. There is a lot to play for."

Speaking in a Liverpool Echo interview, Fowler added: "Some people have mentioned me moving into coaching and I even saw a move to the USA mentioned, but I honestly haven't even thought about anything like that yet."

Fowler scored two penalties in the 4-0 win over Sheffield United on Saturday, only his third start of the season.

But it meant he has now netted seven goals in seven starts this term, to underline that although his legs may be weary, he still has the finishing talent of old.

Fowler said: "Obviously it's not easy to come back into the team when you have not played for a while, and I think that showed in some parts of my game.

"I'd prefer to score from open play rather than penalties, but I will take any opportunity that comes along.

"But I know I am not expected to start against Manchester United on Saturday, there are players coming back from injury."

But Fowler is aware that Voronin will be in the squad next term, a striker with 40 international caps and experience with Cologne, Mainz and Borussia Monchengladbach.

On the assumption that Benitez does not sell Craig Bellamy in the summer following the Portuguese training ground antics - and the Liverpool boss has distanced himself from such suggestions - Voronin will become the Merseysiders' fourth striker.

Benitez may well try to sign a proven 20-goal-a-season forward, and if he does so that could only hasten the departure of Fowler, who unexpectedly returned to the club in January last year.

Benitez initially gave him a six-month contract and then extended that by a year last summer.

But it is unlikely that sentiment will come into the Spaniard's plans for the future now that he has been promised a sizeable transfer kitty by the club's new owners.

Still, that has not stopped Benitez hailing Fowler as the best finisher at the club.

He told Liverpool's website, www.liverpoolfc.tv: "He's a really good finisher, still the best we have, and I sometimes think that if we could have Bellamy running at defenders and carrying the ball 20 yards, then turning into Fowler with the goal in sight, it would be perfect.

"If you create chances for him, you know you can rely on his finishing and that is a very important quality to have.

"We have four very good strikers, all with different skills. You can make the most of Peter Crouch's aerial ability, Dirk Kuyt works hard between the lines and Bellamy runs behind defences.

"Robbie operates in and around the box and, of course, he snaps up chances.

"We can talk about Robbie's future at a later date, but if he scores every time he plays over the next few months, you never know.

"You need a regular supply of goals from someone and if Robbie is not with us next season we will have to look for another like him. It will not be easy, but it is clear we would need someone with the same qualities."

Fowler has now hit 183 goals in 363 games for the club and after grabbing his second chance to play for the Merseysiders with both hands.

He recalled in his autobiography that he was never given the chance to say a proper farewell to the Liverpool fans when previous boss Gerard Houllier sold him to Leeds.

There is no way that Benitez would treat the Toxteth-born ace in the same way. If Fowler is to leave again, this time for good, it will be on a wave of emotion fitting for a player still called "God".

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