Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has been pencilled in to play 45 minutes at Derby on Friday as crosses a major hurdle in his rehabilitation from serious injury.
The Liverpool midfielder resumed full training last month, ahead of schedule, and the club's medical staff have been delighted with the way he has responded to an intense programme having ruptured his anterior, medial and cruciate ligaments last April.
Jurgen Klopp has been eager for Oxlade-Chamberlain to get some minutes under his belt and there was an option to play him in the Under-23s clash against Everton at Anfield. The rivalry around that game, though, and the potential to be exposed to heavy challenges meant Liverpool were cautious.
It meant the preferred option was Friday afternoon's Under-23 game against Derby County at the club's Moor Farm training base. Rather than ask Oxlade-Chamberlain to do too much too soon, he will be eased back into action and feature in one half.
The timing of this game is crucial, as Liverpool's Under-23s do not have another game then until April 8 – by which time the England international could potentially be considered for involvement in Liverpool's first team.
Oxlade-Chamberlain has made giant strides – it was initially anticipated he would not play at all this season – but Liverpool will not jeopardise the last crucial stages of his programme by rushing him back before he is physically ready to cope with the Premier League.
Nonetheless, the fact he is training with the first team is a huge boost for the 25-year-old, his manager and his team-mates; Oxlade-Chamberlain is an important member of the group and well-regarded.
In further good news for Klopp, Dejan Lovren has returned to full training. The Croatia defender has been out with a hamstring issue sustained in the FA Cup defeat at Wolves on January 7 but has been given the all-clear to join the rest of the squad.
He will not be available for selection this Sunday against Burnley but Lovren could be included in the squad that goes to Munich next week for the Champions League last 16 tie; with young striker Rhian Brewster having also started training, it means Joe Gomez is Liverpool's only key absentee.