Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could make a surprise Liverpool comeback this season.
Oxlade-Chamberlain had been tipped to miss the entire current campaign after suffering a knee injury in April’s Champions League semi-final with Roma.
But the England international’s rehabilitation is surpassing expectations and is now being tipped to return to full training by the end of February at the earliest.
It means he could play some part in the Reds’ current Premier League title bid.
“It’s the best news. He started going out on the pitch and from the first step looked completely normal,” said Jurgen Klopp.
“With Ox, from the first step, it looked like Ox. It was really nice and there was no reaction.
“It looks like February being back in normal training. Late February, maybe March. It gives us hope he will be back in this season.
“It looks really good. Of course it needs time and each little muscle must now adapt to the intensity.
“If you look at the sessions he does outside he looks like he can play tomorrow but of course it is not possible. It’s a boost for the entire dressing room because he is such a big part of that.
“It’s a surprise. He’s ahead of schedule. That’s always good news. We try not to push him too much but we don’t want to hold him back.
“If he makes further steps like he did in the last few weeks he can play Premier League football this season which is nice to know.”