Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has revealed that Diogo Jota should be in line for a return to full training next week.
The Portugal international has been sidelined since suffering a serious calf injury against Manchester City in October, ruling him out of the World Cup.
Jota has been restricted to a mere eight appearances at club level during the 2022-23 season - having missed the start of the campaign with a hamstring injury - and he has since been absent for 17 contests at club level.
However, the 26-year-old was briefly seen working with the rest of the squad earlier this week, sparking optimism that he will soon be available to Klopp once again.
While Jota is guaranteed to miss Saturday's Premier League clash with former club Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux, the attacker is on course to return within the next couple of weeks.
© Reuters
Addressing reporters in Friday's pre-game press conference, Klopp said: "Generally it's looking better. The boys are training, Diogo Jota had a full session with the team this week but then the next day had again a rehab session, not because of the session the day before, it was just part of the plan. I think he will be back in normal training next week."
Jota has been one of several Liverpool players taking up spots in the treatment room recently, with Luis Diaz, Virgil van Dijk, Arthur, Roberto Firmino and Ibrahima Konate also dealing with serious injuries.
Van Dijk came off with a hamstring problem in Liverpool's defeat to Brentford in January, but Klopp is hopeful that the Netherlands international will also take part in team practice alongside Jota next week.
"Virgil is getting closer, but not ready for the [Wolves] game obviously. Parts of training, I think, next week as well for Virgil. I think there is nothing else so far, but there's still two hours before training so a lot can happen," Klopp added, while also confirming that Firmino (calf) and Diaz (knee) are getting "closer".
"Bobby is getting closer obviously, very good. Luis is running now, it will take a few weeks still but he is now out on the pitch as well running, which is really good."
© Reuters
With Van Dijk and Konate sidelined, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip are set to pair up at the back against Wolves, while Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams are waiting in the wings.
Konate completed the full 90 minutes in last week's FA Cup defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion, but the Frenchman has since been ruled out for three weeks with a hamstring injury.
Having spoken with Konate after the game, Klopp was confident that the 23-year-old had avoided a serious problem, but the centre-back is now set to miss crucial fixtures with Everton, Newcastle United and Real Madrid.
"Ibou has a muscle injury. Again he didn't think it was massive, it happened in the game, I asked him after the game, 'Are you OK?' and he said, 'Yeah, I'm OK.' After the game [he had] treatment, scan, bam, out," Klopp said.
Meanwhile, Arthur is still facing a number of weeks out after undergoing thigh surgery, having only played 13 minutes since arriving from Juventus on loan in the summer transfer window.
Despite calls from supporters, Liverpool opted against signing a new midfielder in January, but the emergence of Stefan Bajcetic has been a shining light in a difficult period for the Reds.
© Reuters
The 18-year-old - who was recently handed a new long-term contract at Anfield - has cemented a place in the starting XI ahead of Fabinho, who has failed to live up to his usual high standards this term.
Klopp refused to shy away from the fact that something is "not clicking" with Fabinho, saying: "We don't have arguments on the training ground or anything. If you think that, that is not the case at all.
"He knows he's not flying and he has to work his way back. That's how it is. It's now really helpful we have Stefan [Bajcetic] because he's doing really well. In this position, you need a guy who wins challenges, who protects everybody, but who plays football as well.
"It's really important and for plenty of years, [Fabinho has been] the best in that position for a long time. At the moment, it's not clicking and that's true as well, you have to go through that. He's not the happiest person on the planet but he understands the decision."
Liverpool enter Saturday's game in ninth place in the Premier League table, 10 points behind fourth-placed Manchester United with a game in hand.
Ben Knapton
