Emre Can is unlikely to play any part in Liverpool's summer tour of the United States due to his involvement at Euro 2016 with Germany.
The midfielder has yet to play a minute of football for Joachim Low's men, who face hosts France in a mouthwatering semi-final in Marseille this Thursday after edging past Italy on penalties in the last round.
But with Jürgen Klopp willing to allow players three weeks' off after their respective nation's elimination, Can is unlikely to feature over in the States.
Midfielder to miss handful of pre-season friendlies
The Reds open their tour of the USA against Premier League rivals Chelsea on July 28, before taking on AC Milan in July 31, with both matches in California.
Their final fixture sees them travel to St. Louis to take on AS Roma on August 2, facing the Serie A side in pre-season for the third time in four years.
But were Can's Germany knocked out by France, he would not be due to report back to the squad until at least July 28 - with Liverpool jetting off to America a week earlier - while any progression to the final would add an extra three days' to that.
That would mean the 22-year-old's expected to return to Melwood wouldn't come until early August, with the Reds' first game of the Premier League season currently scheduled for August 13 away at Arsenal.
That's likely to mean Can trains back on Merseyside, rather than travelling to America, though if so he would still have the chance to earn some minutes against either Barcelona or Mainz in the club's final two friendlies, which come on August 6 and August 7.
Undoubtedly a key player for next season, Can's absence over the next few weeks - with Jürgen Klopp set to introduce triple training sessions as he tries to build his squad up to full fitness - will come as a disappointment.
He appeared in 49 of the Reds' 62 matches in all competitions last season, an ankle ligament injury and a two-match suspension for accumulating 10 yellow cards in the league keeping him out of a further seven.
Given his immense improvements under his compatriot Klopp, the German is expected to be central to Liverpool's side in 2016-17. He is already guaranteed to miss friendlies with Tranmere Rovers, Fleetwood Town, Wigan Athletic and Huddersfield Town.
Can in line for first Euro 2016 importance?
Can could even earn his first cap at a major tournament in the semi-finals due to injuries and suspensions to Low's other midfield options.
Sami Khedira's hamstring problem, as well as a knee knock for Bastian Schweinsteiger, boosts Can's chances of featuring in his favoured central midfield role.
Low, speaking in a press conference earlier this week, admitted that Can can be used "in many positions" and insisted: "He'd be a player who would do well for our game."
However, the Germany manager insisted that Borussia Dortmund midfielder Julian Weigl is "a very good player" but just "a different type of player" but ruled out Joshua Kimmich of Bayern Munich, insisting he is "not under consideration" because of "other central possibilities."
Low declared that he and his backroom staff will "wait for two or three more days" before making their decision and adding that they will "see how the decision plays out."
Ward and Allen also likely to return to squad late
Wales duo Joe Allen and Danny Ward, who face Portugal in the competition's other semi-final in Lyon, face a similar problem - although their uncertain futures mean they might not have taken part in the USA tour anyway.
Ward, while considered a long-term prospect for the No.1 spot on Merseyside, is expected to go out on loan to the Championship next season with Huddersfield Town - managed by Klopp's close friend David Wagner - a potential destination.
Elsewhere, Allen's future is up in the air. Having attracted bids from former club Swansea City, his place in Klopp's plans next season are dependent on the outcome of the Reds' summer business.
With deals for first-choice midfield targets Piotr Zielinski and Mahmoud Dahoud looking increasingly unlikely, Allen could remain at the club unless new targets emerge.