Liverpool defender Joe Gomez has received a welcome confidence boost ahead of his first-team comeback after manager Jurgen Klopp insisted a squad place was kept open for him during his lengthy absence.
The 19-year-old is the only player in the official first-team squad not to have featured in any match -- competitive or otherwise -- under Klopp.
Gomez sustained a serious cruciate knee ligament injury on England Under-21 duty four days before the German's first match in charge having replaced Brendan Rodgers in October 2015.
After a few outings for Liverpool's U23 team Gomez is set to play his first senior match in 16 months in Sunday's FA Cup visit of League Two Plymouth, ending a long wait for both the young centre-back and his manager.