Brendan Rodgers has reported no fresh injury worries after the international break — and has revealed that one of his long-term absentees could return before the end of the season.
Both Jamie Carragher and Pepe Reina are now back in full training, meaning only Joe Allen (shoulder), Martin Kelly (knee) and Fabio Borini (shoulder) remain in the treatment room.
In an update for Liverpoolfc.com, Rodgers revealed just how much pain Allen has been playing through in recent months before having surgery last week.
While the Welshman won’t kick a ball again this season, the boss said he hopes to have Kelly back in training at the start of May.
“Joe has had his operation, and it went well,” he said. “It’s interesting because, when it was looked at, the surgeon said that if you touched it with your thumb, you would have broken the shoulder. So that just shows you how flimsy it was and also how much pain he was in for a period of time. But thankfully that went well, and he has started his rehabilitation. It will unfortunately keep him out for the rest of the season.
“Martin may well be back towards the beginning of May, but that will be to join training. I’m not sure if he’s going to be available to play this season.
“The feeling with him and Fabio was that they would probably miss a big part of the season.”
On the fitness of the rest of his squad after the internationals, Rodgers added: “Everyone has returned fit and ready.
“A lot of the players who have been on international duty have come back, and the medical team has looked at them, and everyone is fine.
“There are a couple of little niggles here and there, but nothing that’s going to keep anyone out.
“Pepe Reina and Jamie Carragher are back in training. Lucas Leiva couldn’t start against Southampton because he had an injury — he didn’t train a lot of the week.
“But everyone is fighting fit and fresh, and we’re really looking forward to the weekend.”
