Naby Keita could be in line to return for Liverpool after the international break with Guinea's manager hopeful the midfielder will be fit for their upcoming fixtures this month.
The 27-year-old has not featured for his club side since the Community Shield victory over Manchester City at the end of July and is now nursing an injury. Keita was not even included in Liverpool's Champions League squad for the group stage, sparking concerns he could be ruled out of action for the long term.
However, Guinea boss Kaba Diawara has suggested the player could be back in action before the end of this month and has even named him in his squad for the friendlies against Algeria (September 23) and Ivory Coast (September 27). "Naby Kéita is injured and he is recovering from his injury. His situation is improving and he is even ahead of schedule," Diawara said (via Feguifoot ).
"We took a group of 24 players precisely to give him a chance to be able to count on him because he is a very important player for us, on and off the pitch, he is our captain.
"We are monitoring his situation very closely. We still have a little over two weeks before our first game. There are chances of getting him back by then."
Diawara's comments suggest Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp's decision to snub Keita from his Champions League plans may not be due to his fitness issues. Keita is into the final year of his contract at Anfield and was linked with a move away during the summer transfer window.
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Klopp admitted last month that Keita was not "overly happy" with not playing regularly but dismissed reports claiming his player could move clubs. “I have to respond on ‘news’ but if you learn on my side 0.0% is behind the news,” Klopp said a few weeks ago.
“He was ill, now he is in training and looking really good. Not a player overly happy when he’s not playing, but nor should he be, so it’s completely fine.”
Keita has seemingly picked up an injury in the interim with Liverpool still light on midfield options. Klopp watched his side slump to a disappointing 4-1 defeat at Napoli on Wednesday as their Champions League campaign got off to the worst possible start.
Liverpool's next scheduled fixture against Wolves on Saturday has been postponed by the Premier League as a mark of respect to Queen Elizabeth II following her death on Thursday. The Reds are then set to host Ajax in the Champions League on Tuesday if the game goes ahead, before facing Chelsea at Stamford Bridge next Sunday, prior to the international break.
That could give Keita adequate time to recover ahead of the clash with Brighton on October 1 - Liverpool's first fixture after the break, while they would also have had him available for four Champions League group fixtures had Klopp selected him in his squad.
Liverpool are thought to be keen on extending Keita's contract beyond the end of this season, though the injury-prone midfielder has so far failed to live up to his initial £54million price tag since moving from RB Leipzig four years ago, and the club will not want to risk losing him for nothing if he doesn't put pen to paper soon.
