Adam Lallana steps up injury comeback as Jurgen Klopp arranges behind-closed-doors game for Liverpool playmaker
England midfielder has yet to play this season following a thigh injury over the summer but Liverpool hope he can make first team return by December
ADAM LALLANA will make a huge step towards a first team comeback in a behind-closed-doors friendly next week.
Lallana has missed the entire season so far with a thigh injury in a major disruption to Liverpool's plans to challenge in the Premier League this season.
But the England midfielder is now back in full training at Melwood and is close to being considered for a first team return.
Key to his rehabilitation will be serious match action, and manager Jurgen Klopp has decided to make use of the international break with the players not away with their countries.
Klopp has ordered a friendly game to be played next week, involving senior and youth players, where Lallana will play from the start.
Fellow first team stars like Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner are also expected to be involved in the 90-minute match.
But all eyes will be on how Lallana comes through the game as the club look to get him back into the first team by December.
The 29-year-old has been sidelined since suffering the thigh injury on the club's pre-season trip to Germany.
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His absence has been a huge blow to Klopp, who had earmarked Lallana to be an integral part of his side this season.
And it will also be a major boost to England boss Gareth Southgate, with the midfielder establishing himself as one of the key members of the Three Lions squad in the past two years.
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Reds boss Klopp will also be keeping an eye on the fitness of attackers Philippe Countinho and Sadio Mane while they are away on international duty.
Mane has only just returned from injury and Liverpool hope he is not overused by Sengal as he builds up his match fitness.
Coutinho missed last week's 4-1 thrashing of West Ham through a hamstring injury, but has joined up with the Brazil squad for matches against Japan and England.
He is undergoing intensive treatment with the national squad, and though the Japan match is unlikely there is a chance he could play at Wembley next Tuesday.
Klopp will be keen to ensure his playmaker is not pushed to figure unless he is fully fit.