Jürgen Klopp has revealed that Jon Flanagan is in contention to make his first Liverpool appearance in over a year-and-a-half in Wednesday night's FA Cup third-round replay with Exeter City.
The local full-back has been building his fitness, making several appearances for the Under-21s and in behind-closed-doors friendlies, after spending 18 months on the sidelines with a knee injury that has required two surgeries.
As such, the 23-year-old hasn't made a senior appearance for the Reds since the final day of the 2013-14 season - but having fully rehabilitated, Klopp revealed that Flanagan is looking better and better each day in training and could play some part at Anfield.
Flanagan to start on the bench on Wednesday night
He told reporters in his pre-match press conference that the defender is "in a really good way" and that he and his backroom staff are all "happy" about how his recovery is going.
The Reds boss admitted that the medical department didn't allow him to train with his teammates on Monday, but allowed him to do so on Tuesday and said that whilst he is "not [ready] for the starting line-up" he "will be on the bench" provided that "nothing happens and he feels good."
He added that if there "is a situation", suggesting that should injuries force his introduction, or his side be leading comfortably enough, then he will "bring him [on]" because it has been "a long time" for him out on the sidelines.
Klopp insisted that it will be a "good, good step" for the player to "breathe in and feel Anfield; being back in the dressing room, not in a suit but a tracksuit" and said as long as no-one tells him "something different" then Flanagan will "be in the squad."
Klopp says Reds will field another youthful XI
Liverpool go toe-to-toe with the League Two outfit having seen out an end-to-end 2-2 draw at St James' Park two weeks ago - a game which saw Klopp field a largely unexperienced starting eleven.
With as many as eight first-team injuries still affecting his options, and fixtures coming thick and fast, Klopp explained that he's likely to field a similar line-up in the replay.
He said that there are "different things" he and his backroom staff have to talk about which are "not always injury situations" as he acknowledged that they had "a few players" in the matchday squads for the recent league games against Manchester United and Arsenal who were injured "a few weeks ago."
As a result, the German says Liverpool must "think about" for who it "makes sense" and for who "it's not too dangerous or difficult to start" but also declared that they will build a squad of players "in a situation to win the game" and to "help" the team so that there's "not too much doubt about injuries and things like this."
He called it "the first thing" they must consider when planning the starting side against Exeter, and teased that it will therefore "be a similar to team to last time" with perhaps one or two different faces.
No Sturridge versus Exeter, says Klopp
But one player whose chances of playing Klopp categorically ruled out was Daniel Sturridge, who he revealed has had another break from his "mini pre-season" rehabilitation at Melwood following another campaign affected by constant injuries.
He said that there is "absolutely no chance" that Sturridge will feature against the Grecians and told reporters that the striker had "a break in his training sessions" because of "some issues" - though he did add that he's "back on the pitch" and training again now.
However, Klopp insisted that because he hasn't trained with the team since before the loss at Newcastle United in early December, they aren't in "a situation where we can think about him" and instead have "to find solutions" to not having him available.
German declares another weakened team won't be out of disrespect for competition or opponents
Klopp was determined to remind the media that should he again choose to make as many as 11 changes to the team, it won't be out of disrespect for either Exeter or the FA Cup, rather that they must protect the fitness of their first-team squad at the time of a convoluted fixture schedule.
He labelled it the "biggest misunderstanding in the world" if anyone thinks his team will be because they "don't think the FA Cup is the most important competition" and said they "have some injuries."
Klopp also said then when the players are "fresh in mind and legs" then they are "able to perform" and are "more than competitive" and "create chances" but questioned then whether those some players can play in the next game or whether it's "too much" for them to play and whether they have to change or "try it again lke this."
He declared that "of course it would be better" if they had "more opportunities" to field stronger squads, but said they don't "in this moment" and so "will play with a team with fresh legs."
He said that they "want to go to the next round" but insisted it "is not easy" as Exeter showed in the previous meeting and it will be "a different game" again, though backed his players to "try to take the chance to go to the next round" and then focus on "the next game at Norwich" on Saturday afternoon.
