Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has revealed that midfielder Lucas Leiva is expected to make a return to first-team action two months earlier than predicted.

The Brazilian was expected to be sidelined for nine months after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injust last November.

"He'll have some involvement," Rodgers told the club's official website. "He's still got some way to go to get back to where he was before the injury but he's back two months early.

"This is normally a nine-month injury. He's been back in seven, and that's great credit to his work and the work of the medics here."

The Northern Irishman aslo hinted that the midfielder could feature in the Reds' first pre-season fixture against MLS side Toronto in Canada.