Liverpool midfielder Fabinho says he is closing in on a return from an ankle injury. The Brazilian has not played since being taken off injured in the 1-1 draw against Napoli in late November.

Speaking in an interview on French television, the 26-year-old revealed he is back working with the ball again but he hasn’t returned to training with his teammates yet:

“My ankle is getting better, I trained by myself this week. I was working with the ball again. I feel good and confident.”

Fabinho was in excellent form before he was sidelined but the likes of Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum have stepped up ably in his absence.

The Brazilian international could well have a fight on his hands to get his place back in the team on a regular basis, with the midfield having helped keep six successive clean sheets in the league.

There are, though, a whole host of games coming up over the next few weeks and months, and Fabinho’s return will be very much welcomed by manager Jurgen Klopp.