By Phil McNulty BBC Sport Online chief football writer

Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek's career has undergone a traumatic transformation in the space of weeks.

Poland international Dudek was widely accepted as the Premiership's most reliable last line of defence - a calm and composing influence on Gerard Houllier's side.

So it has been one of the more remarkable twists in footballing fate that this consumate professional has become the subject of media mockery after a series of high-profile blunders.

He will be weighed down with footballing and psychological advice - but could rip a leaf out of veteran John Burridge's book to revive his career by trying self-hypnosis.

What you are doing is rebuilding confidence as if it was a wall that was shattered Consultant psychologist William Johnson on self-hypnosis

"Budgie" Burridge regarded his mid-80s move as being ahead of its time, and labelled the man who made him one of the game's most enduring figures as his "guru".

And consultant psychologist William Johnson, who revived Burridge, believes Dudek could be a beneficiary of the self-hypnosis technique.

Dudek's desperate error in Liverpool's 2-1 defeat against Manchester United reduced him to tears and revealed his collapse in confidence.

He allowed a simple header from team-mate Jamie Carragher to slip through his hands and legs for Diego Forlan to score at Anfield.

The shattered Dudek was then beaten at his near post for Forlan's second.

Dudek's despair started when a dropped cross presented Gareth Southgate with a winner at Middlesbrough in early November - then more fumbling gave Facundo Sava a goal as Fulham beat Liverpool.

Liverpool boss Houllier admitted Dudek had to regain his confidence, a tactic tried with success by old campaigner Burridge.

He reacted to a bad spell at Sheffield United by visiting Johnson, who had worked with ice skaters, golfers and tennis players who had lost their way.

Burridge used self-hypnosis

Burridge's career underwent a resurgence, ending with a trek around the leagues, and Johnson explained how his technique can help sportsmen who have temporarily lost their chosen art.

He told BBC Sport Online: "John Burridge came to me because he wanted an extra boost to his capabilities. I can't put skill into people, but it is simply a rebuilding of confidence and assurity.

"Mixed opposite this is the control of whatever skill the sportsman has. In Burridge's case his control was not right. I managed to fix it and from what I understand he was charged up again.

"Usually a course takes 10 one-hour sessions with exercises of the mind in between.

"In Burridge's case he was taught a technique called self-hypnosis, which he could do just before matches.

"It takes about four or five minutes. It is inward control.

"What you are doing is rebuilding confidence as if it was a wall that was shattered. There are certain bricks that have come asunder.

"The areas of concentration would be a revival of successful moments. You would visualise success. It is a complete remodelling of the attitude and behaviour of that individual."

Johnson added: "It is a building analogy. From the base you build up. The person involved here (Dudek) is hooking on to negative moments, repeating the same thing and he can't get rid of it.

"Unless you are shown how, it could or would continue. I would think Dudek would be a case perhaps for teaching the self-hypnosis techique, which could be done just before a match."