The midfielder has been out since last April when he damaged cruciate and medial ligaments, plus the tendons to his hamstring, in the Champions League semi-final first leg against Roma. The severity of the injury was kept from Liverpool’s players at the request of Oxlade-Chamberlain until their European campaign was over.
Jürgen Klopp admitted last July that it would be a bonus should the 25-year-old make a competitive appearance for the club this season but the England international is on course to beat the anticipated 12-month lay-off. He has been training with Liverpool’s first-team squad for several weeks – “70% of team training then he leaves a bit early to do something else and the things he needs,” his manager said last week – and is set to play against Derby County for the under-23s on Friday.