Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Luis Diaz has been in training with the Reds amid the kidnapping of his parents in Colombia.
The former Porto man has been unavailable for his side's last two wins over Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth following the harrowing news, which broke on the morning of the 3-0 Premier League victory over the Tricky Trees.
After opening the scoring against Steve Cooper's side, Liverpool attacker Diogo Jota held up Diaz's jersey, drawing applause from players, staff and fans inside Anfield as a token of support for the South American.
Diaz's mother has since been rescued, but his father remains unaccounted for after the pair was taken - allegedly at gunpoint - by the gang, who have been identified as guerrilla group ELN by the Colombian government.
A £40,000 reward is on offer for anyone who possesses information leading to Diaz senior's rescue, and it has been claimed that the ELN - also known as the National Liberation Army - will release the player's father in the coming days.
Offering an update on Diaz's situation in his pre-Luton Town press conference, Klopp affirmed that he will not put any pressure on the winger to play at Kenilworth Road this weekend, and Diaz will dictate when he returns to action.
"He was in training two days ago, he had yesterday a session and will be part of the team. We must wait – if he feels right he will be here and train with us," Klopp told reporters.
"The session he had with us, because then we were not here, you could see that when he is with the boys it is fine, it's OK. But you could see as well that he didn't sleep a lot.
"We have just to see how he is and then we go from there. The news from Colombia, I didn't get them personally, I always get them forwarded. Everything that gives us a little bit of hope is good. We are waiting actually for the really good news, but that's it pretty much.
"I cannot really say what we will do because we just wait where we can pick up the boy from and go from there. But it's all about him, that he makes himself available or not, and I will not force anything."
While Diaz's participation is up in the air, Andrew Robertson will definitely miss the clash with the Hatters with his shoulder injury, while Stefan Bajcetic (calf) and Thiago Alcantara (hip) will not be back just yet either.
Giving the latest on Bajcetic's condition, Klopp added: "No, we don't know [when he will be back]. With Stefan it's, again, one of these things. Stefan's quality, potential, talent, everybody could see and it's incredible - what a player - but the body was not ready yet.
"He is here, he is training, he is doing his stuff, we are building his [fitness]. We know how he good he is and now we have to make sure we help him to get a body to show that, and not only once but then three times a week."
Meanwhile, Klopp does not expect Thiago to return before the end of 2023, adding: "With Thiago it is slightly different, it's an ongoing thing and we cannot put any kind of pressure on there as well.
"We expect him to be back - and I would say probably the start of the New Year. It's now already November, so that would mean another four weeks. I would say that's probably a realistic thing to try and I can't wait, to be honest, to have him back."
Liverpool sit fourth in the Premier League table ahead of their trip to Luton Town, whom they have not faced in a competitive match since a 5-0 FA Cup win in the 2007-08 campaign. body check tags ::
