Jurgen Klopp has revealed that star man Mohamed Salah could be back in action for Liverpool as soon as Thursday.
The Reds take on Leicester City at Anfield, looking to keep pace with Premier League leaders Manchester City.
Salah played for Egypt on Sunday in the Africa Cup of Nations final, where he was beaten by Liverpool teammate Sadio Mane 's Senegal in a dramatic penalty shoot-out.
But despite the 29-year-old's recent endeavours in Cameroon, with all four of Egypt's knockout matches going to extra-time, Klopp is expecting to have Salah back in contention when the Foxes come to town.
"Mo is now back, I spoke already to him. He is very disappointed of course, but looking forward to all the things coming up here now," the Reds boss told his club's website.
"I spoke to him and pretty much the first thing Mo told me was: 'I'm ready'. Haha!
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"He is an experienced player, he is a physical monster, to be honest, so we have to see. He will obviously have a little recovery session today and we will see how he feels tomorrow and from there we go.
"The proper plan we don't have, play him as often and as long as possible is probably the plan, but we will not rush it. But if he is fine we will not leave him out for the wrong reasons as well, so let's see."
Quizzed specifically on whether Salah could make Thursday's clash with Leicester, Klopp replied: "Yes, yes. Sadio no chance as he's not even here, but Mo yes."
Meanwhile, Mane is still in Senegal celebrating his nation's triumph.
The winger netted the decisive penalty in the shoot-out, making amends after missing one in normal time.
Given how crucial February is for Liverpool - with four league fixtures, a Champions League round-of-16 first leg and Carabao Cup final all to come in the next 19 days - Klopp will be hoping Mane can also return quickly.
And the trip to Burnley on Sunday is potentially an ideal time to get back in action himself.
"Sadio flies out if it's possible on Wednesday night, so will arrive here on Thursday but he is, of course, then not involved in the Leicester game," Klopp added.
"It means the world to him [the AFCON win], it means the world to his people, it means the world to Senegal and we respect that a lot and we would never consider to have called him back from there or whatever – let them do what they do in the moment because they deserve it.
"They've had an incredibly intense time, so when he is back we will talk to him and we will see how we can use him."
