Jurgen Klopp is convinced Luis Diaz will make a major impact on the remainder of Liverpool's season as the winger nears a long-awaited return to first team action.
Diaz has been absent since hobbling off with a knee injury during the first half of the 3-2 Premier League defeat at Arsenal on October 9.
The Colombia international was initially sidelined for eight weeks by the problem which was determined not to require surgery. However, after suffering a recurrence just days into his comeback during the mid-season training camp in Dubai, Diaz underwent an operation that has now kept him out for more than three months.
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The 26-year-old has ramped up his rehabilitation during the last week with Liverpool hopeful the player will be back in full training before the international break at the end of the month.
And with at least 11 Premier League games to play during April and May, Klopp - whose side entertain Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday night - is hopeful Diaz can contribute as the Reds chase down a top-four finish and Champions League qualification.
"It's a different situation to last season," said the Reds boss when asked if the forward could make the same explosive impact as when first arriving at Liverpool midway through last season. "He came here having played all the games for Porto pretty much and now he's out with an injury for the second time.
"I can tell you the two sessions he had with us in Dubai in the training camp, it was like 'oh my God, how good is that?'. Then he was injured again.
"When he is back he will be really good and very impactful, of course. That is clear. How quickly, I don't know. We have to see. That's the big challenge in these moments. There's no time for being patient but you have to be patient.
"I'm positive about him that there's a good chance to have a real impact in 10, 11, 12 games maybe. We will see how long it exactly takes.
"It's estimated that maybe next week he will be warming up with the team and then maybe a week later being in team training. That would be cool. But you always have to wait. On Tuesday I saw a very intense session, a lot of change of direction and stuff like this, if there is no reaction from that then he can make the next step. Then I think he is not too far away."
As the battle for Champions League qualification intensifies, victory over Wolves would move Liverpool within six points of fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur with a game in hand.
Klopp is expected to make changes from the side that drew at Crystal Palace on Saturday, with centre-back Ibrahima Konate and forward Darwin Nunez both back fit and in contention. Fabinho, Harvey Elliott and Stefan Bajcetic are pressing for a start in midfield, while the Liverpool boss hinted at the weekend Trent Alexander-Arnold could be due a rest.
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