• Premier League

Liverpool trio close to return

Jose Enrique has been missing since November © Getty Images

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Liverpool head of performance Glen Driscoll has said Lucas Leiva, Mamadou Sakho and Jose Enrique could return by the end of the month.

Brendan Rodgers has had to contend with a number of injury problems of late, with Daniel Agger and Glen Johnson also unavailable.

However, Driscoll told the club's official website that Agger and Johnson came through training "very well" on Tuesday and Rodgers could soon have a fully-fit squad.

"Without providing specific dates I would hope that by the end of the month we should start to get the likes of Jose, Lucas and Sakho back," he said.

Lucas had initially been ruled out for two months after scans showed he damaged the medical collateral ligament in his right knee in last month's 2-2 draw with Aston Villa.

However, Driscoll said: "Lucas Leiva was due to be in a brace for six weeks, according to specialists' opinion, but yesterday he was outside running just over three weeks in, which is fantastic and shows just how ahead of schedule he is."

Enrique underwent surgery on his knee in November and had been expected to return this month, while Sakho is still recovering from the hamstring problem sustained in the 2-1 defeat at Chelsea on December 29.

"Jose Enrique also had a complex knee issue and following surgery is in the process of achieving his final strength gains before he can return to training," he said.

"Mamadou Sakho actually had a tear in his tendon and not the muscle of the hamstring as initially reported. For a whole host of reasons tendons take longer to heal, but he is working hard and progressing."

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