LIVERPOOL -- Brendan Rodgers says Mario Balotelli has already proved how much he cares about Liverpool -- and insists the striker is "not complicated."
The 24-year-old arrived on Merseyside in August with a reputation for controversy and indiscipline as he completed a 16 million-pound move from AC Milan.
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Rodgers feels that Balotelli will need time to adjust to a new-look Liverpool squad.
The Italy international, though, scored his first goal for the Reds as they beat Ludogorets 2-1 in the Champions League last Tuesday.
And even though Liverpool's start to the season has been a poor one -- which three defeats in their opening five Premier League matches -- Rodgers can see signs that the purchase of Balotelli will be good business.
He said: "I've really enjoyed working with him so far.
"He's a good guy. He wants to do well for the club and he's shown that he cares enough about the club to devote that time to it.
"For me, he's not complicated. He's a football player who wants to do well in his life and his career and if he continues to give everything and work tirelessly for the cause, then there'll always be an opportunity here."
Rodgers has reshaped Liverpool's squad during the summer, selling Luis Suarez to Barcelona for 75 million pounds and bringing in nine players.
And the manager added: "It's not just about Mario. It's about the whole group. There's a new dynamic in the group.
"We lost Luis, who was a marvellous player, and we had to bring in a number of players because we needed the depth in the squad. We were very, very short last year.
"So there was a natural transition in the group. And when there is that transition, there are little bumps on the way.
"But Mario was one of a number of players we brought in, and for them all, no matter how good they are, it's going to take a wee bit of time for them all to gel with the current players who are here."
Liverpool put in a disjointed display as they lost 3-1 at West Ham in the Premier League on Saturday, and will look to bounce back when they host Championship side Middlesbrough in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday.
Midfielder Jordan Henderson is doubtful with a hip problem, while Brazilian playmaker Philippe Coutinho has been struggling with a groin problem.
Right back Javi Manquillo, though, will be available for selection, with Rodgers confirming that the summer loan signing from Atletico Madrid was taken off for tactical reasons after 22 minutes of the defeat at Upton Park.
The manager said: "I spoke to him yesterday. It was purely a tactical decision.
"The boy's been fantastic since coming in. But I felt that at 2-0 down after 20 minutes, we were struggling in the game.
"And I didn't want to wait to make a change, because my feeling was that it could maybe get to three or four.
"So we went to three centre-halves and changed to 3-5-2 just to give West Ham something else to think about.
"We got a goal, pulled it back to 2-1, and then just couldn't find the finishing touch to get anything else. But he's fine."