Liverpool were handed a midfield boost as Naby Keita took part in team training on Thursday following the Reds’ 1-0 victory over West Ham United on Wednesday.
The Guinean hasn’t featured for Jurgen Klopp ’s side since a late five-minute substitute appearance against Man City in the Community Shield back in July, but has recently stepped up his rehabilitation after suffering a thigh injury in training earlier this season.
Klopp confirmed on Tuesday, ahead of Liverpool ’s meeting with the Hammers, that the midfielder had started taking part in team sessions earlier this week as he eyes up a potential return. Now his latest involvement suggests he is close to being available again.
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However, the Reds are unlikely to rush the 27-year-old, who is out of contract next summer, if their treatment of Curtis Jones and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is anything to go by with Klopp even hinting as much in a recent press conference.
“Curtis was on the bench (against Man City). It was clear we would not bring him on, we just had space,” Klopp said when explaining the next steps for some of his walking wounded earlier this week. “He is in training, looks really good in training but needs further training until he is really available.
“He could be a step closer now after two days. But he didn’t train yesterday so maybe half a step closer.
“Oxlade is getting closer. Yesterday, in full team training but that needs time. He was out for a while. Now we have to make sure he can put all the sessions in his legs that he needs.
“ Naby is now in parts of team training. Slightly different. Calvin is completely back in team training. He had a little setback, a hit on the ankle so we had to keep him out, but I think he is ready to play Under-21s at the weekend which would be absolutely great.”
Jones made his first Premier League appearance of the season off the bench against West Ham, having returned to training a few weeks ago, while Oxlade-Chamberlain made his first matchday squad appearance of the campaign against the Hammers.
Meanwhile, Calvin Ramsay was also pictured in training as he steps up his own return, having made his first appearance since joining Liverpool when scoring off the bench for the Under-21s in their 3-2 defeat to Accrington Stanley in the Papa John’s Trophy on Tuesday night.
With Liverpool only last in action on Wednesday night, a number of players including Darwin Nunez, Thiago Alcantara and Virgil van Dijk were all missing from training on Thursday. But despite Klopp admitting the Uruguayan felt his muscle against West Ham before being substituted, their absence is to be expected due to it being first day recovery.
Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kostas Tsimikas and Fabio Carvalho were the only starters against West Ham who were pictured training on Thursday, while there was also no sign of the likes of short-term absentees Ibrahima Konate and Joel Matip.
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