Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold is reportedly on track to be available for next month's blockbuster Premier League tie with Manchester United.
The 25-year-old is currently on the sidelines with his second knee injury of the year, having firstly hurt himself during January's 2-0 FA Cup triumph over Arsenal in a painful hyperextension.
Alexander-Arnold made a swift recovery from his first issue, but the right-back then sustained another ligament problem against Burnley on February 10 and has been unavailable to Jurgen Klopp since.
Alexander-Arnold has sat out each of Liverpool's 11 matches in all competitions due to his most recent concern, which also prevented him from making the England squad for March's friendlies with Brazil and Belgium.
The vice-captain's absence has at least allowed Conor Bradley to earn his stars at right-back for Liverpool, although the Northern Irish youngster may soon play second fiddle to Alexander-Arnold again.
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According to The Mirror, Alexander-Arnold is increasingly confident that he will make a full recovery in time for Liverpool's upcoming showdown with Man United at Old Trafford on April 7.
The top-flight contest at the Theatre of Dreams represents a rematch from Man United's extraordinary 4-3 victory over Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-finals on March 17, where Amad Diallo scored an extra-time winner to send the Red Devils to the semi-finals.
Alexander-Arnold watched on helplessly as Liverpool's dreams of a quadruple crashed and burned at Old Trafford, but he has apparently been stepping up his recovery at the Reds' Kirkby training base during the international break.
As a result, Klopp is keeping his fingers crossed that Alexander-Arnold will be fine to face Man United in a couple of weeks' time, having already told the media that the defender is on track to exit the treatment room at the start of next month.
Since being promoted to second-in-command behind Virgil van Dijk in the summer, Alexander-Arnold has come up with two goals and 10 assists in 29 matches for Liverpool in the 2023-24 season, but his future is a hot-button topic.
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The 25-year-old has now entered the last 18 months of his contract with the Merseyside giants, and La Liga title favourites Real Madrid are supposedly keeping a close eye on developments.
As well as Alexander-Arnold, Klopp is optimistic that knee victim Diogo Jota could return against Man United next month, while Curtis Jones (shin) might even be fit enough for the tie with Brighton & Hove Albion on March 31.
Following the FA Cup exit at the hands of Man United, Klopp revealed that Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez had all picked up knocks, and the latter withdrew from the Uruguay squad for this month's fixtures.
However, Diaz and Gakpo both started and claimed assists in Colombia and the Netherlands' recent wins over Spain and Scotland respectively, while Ibrahima Konate was on the bench in France's 2-0 loss to Germany.
Thiago Alcantara, Alisson Becker, Stefan Bajcetic, Joel Matip and Ben Doak remain in the infirmary for Liverpool, who are only below Arsenal on goal difference in second place in the Premier League table.
Ben Knapton
