Liverpool duo Thiago Alcantara and Harvey Elliott are closing in on first-team returns ahead of this Sunday's FA Cup tie with Cardiff City.
The Bluebirds travel up to Anfield this weekend for the fourth-round clash with Jurgen Klopp's men looking to cause an upset.
Star forwards Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah are away with the Africa Cup of Nations still, with both Senegal and Egypt having made it into the semi-finals of the tournament.
However, Sunday could see the return of two other Liverpool players.
Thiago has been out for seven weeks with a sprain to the hip capsule, but The Athletic report that the Spaniard is now back in full first-team training.
It is claimed that the midfielder, who has also had to overcome Covid-19, is keen to make up for lost time and is keen to be involved against the Bluebirds this weekend.
Another timely boost for the Reds is the potential return of Harvey Elliott.
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It has also been reported that the young winger could make his return this Sunday after five months out due to a fracture dislocation of his ankle.
Elliott enjoyed a barnstorming season at Blackburn Rovers last year and showed glimpses of his promise at the beginning of the campaign before the cruel injury struck.
But he scored twice at Liverpool's AXA Training Centre last Saturday in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Wrexham, prompting many to believe he will be in the frame for selection on Sunday.
Finally, it is as yet unknown whether new signing Luis Diaz will be ready for the weekend's clash.
Diaz, who signed on Monday for £37m from Porto, has been away on international duty with Colombia, playing in defeats by Peru and Argentina in the last week.
Reports have suggested that the forward's plane arrives in the UK on Thursday, but whether that means it'll be too soon for him to be in action on Sunday remains to be seen.
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