Liverpool have been dealt a boost after scans confirmed that centre-back Joel Matip has not suffered a serious injury despite limping off late on in Sunday's friendly at Wigan Athletic.
The defender, who arrived on a free transfer from Schalke earlier this month, was forced off with ankle pain which left Jürgen Klopp's side with just 10 men in the final minutes of their 2-0 win at the DW Stadium.
But after full-time, Klopp dismissed fears that Matip was the latest addition to their growing list of injured defenders, insisting that it was merely "a minor injury" and backing the player to return to training by Tuesday.
And after visiting Liverpool's Spire Hospital on Monday - scan results have backed up Klopp's beliefs. Cameroon international Matip has suffered no serious damage and rather, has only suffered bruising.
The Reds boss recently revealed that Matip underwent minor surgery to remove screws in his right ankle, which were placed there when he had broken it two few years earlier.
The 24-year-old had admitted just last week that he is still working his way back up to full speed following that surgery, and so the bruising may simply be a subsequent reaction to that.
Reds hoping to have Matip available on US tour
The knock could leave him unavailable for the Reds' final pre-season friendly on home turf against Huddersfield Town on Wednesday night, but he will be recover in order to join the rest of the first-team on their tour of the United States.
The squad, which will also boast all of their returned internationals after their contributions at Euro 2016 earlier in the summer, flies out to California on Thursday ahead of clashes with Chelsea, AC Milan and AS Roma.
Although Matip will be available, Klopp will add to his ranks in the coming days with the arrival of Augsburg centre half Ragnar Klavan, who will have a medical on Tuesady to close in on a £4.2 million move.
Klopp's pursuit of the experienced Estonian is a reaction to Achilles injuries to Mamadou Sakho and Joe Gomez which leave them in doubt of featuring in the Reds' season opener at Arsenal on August 14.
Klavan, who will help reinforce the ranks in the back-line after Kolo Toure and Martin Skrtel's departures, is expected to only be a squad player until injuries or suspensions require him to step in.
It is thought that Klopp will then look to strengthen at left-back, having been unable to negotiate a deal with Leicester City for Ben Chilwell, while the Reds are also hoping to bring in Georginio Wijnaldum of Newcastle United.