Ibrahima Konate hands Liverpool major boost after injury absence

Ibrahima Konate has handed Liverpool a welcome boost following their Champions League misery by returning to training.

Konate has been absent since the FA Cup fourth round defeat at Brighton and Hove Albion on January 29 after suffering a hamstring problem.

The France international sat out the Premier League defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers and the subsequent wins over Everton and Newcastle United, and was among a number of players missing from Tuesday's 5-2 Champions League round of 16 first leg defeat to Real Madrid at Anfield.

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But Konate was back working on the pitch at the AXA Training Centre in Kirkby on Thursday as Jurgen Klopp's side ramped up their preparations for Saturday evening's Premier League trip to Crystal Palace.

The return of the 23-year-old is particularly timely for the Liverpool boss with Joe Gomez having limped off against Real Madrid with a suspected hamstring issue.

Konate has endured an injury-hit campaign with three separate spells on the sidelines restricting him to just nine starts. By contrast, in his debut campaign last term the France international was absent from the matchday squad only twice.

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