Liverpool left-back Andrew Robertson has returned to first-team training and will be available for their EFL Cup semi-final second leg with Fulham on Wednesday.
Jurgen Klopp's side are currently 2-1 up on aggregate, following a come-from-behind victory against the Cottagers at Anfield two weeks ago.
The Reds are now set to be boosted further by the return of their influential full-back who has been out for over three months with a dislocated shoulder.
Robertson picked up the injury on international duty with Scotland back in October, when they were beaten 2-0 away in Spain.
The 29-year-old has since missed Liverpool's last 21 matches in all competitions, with Kostas Tsimikas and Joe Gomez stepping in to deputise.
Positive news has arrived though, as assistant Pep Lijnders told the press ahead of the Fulham clash: "[Robertson] trained yesterday with the team. It's now 13 weeks, he had his meeting with the surgeon to make sure that everything is right to go into full contact and it's clear.
"He did a lot of work and really good rehab throughout the last period, so he's fit in terms of sports science. Now he has to get fit with proper team training." Lijnders added.
"That's a big, big advantage to have him back. We were waiting for a long time. He will travel [to Fulham]. If he trains well today, the medical team have said it's a coaching decision, so he's in."
Gomez had been required to play in an unfamiliar role at left-back over the past five games, after Tsimikas picked up an injury of his own against Arsenal towards the end of 2023.
In a challenge with Bukayo Saka, Tsimikas broke his collarbone and has since undergone surgery, with a return not likely for another two weeks at least.
The semi-final will come too soon for Trent Alexander-Arnold on the opposite flank too, as Lijnders confirmed that Liverpool's FA Cup clash with Norwich City at the weekend is a more likely date for a return.
That should see young Conor Bradley start again at right-back, after he impressed in the 4-0 win over Bournemouth on Sunday, helping his side to a clean sheet, and registering an assist for Diogo Jota's second goal.
Elsewhere on the injury front, Dominik Szoboszlai will also not be ready for the trip to Craven Cottage, but like Alexander-Arnold, may well return for the Norwich tie on Sunday. body check tags ::
