Andoni Iraola has revealed Conor Bradley is closing in on a return to light training and says Hugo Ekitike is "doing very well" in his own rehabilitation efforts.
Bradley hasn't played for Liverpool since suffering a serious knee injury in the goalless draw at Arsenal back in January but is back in the gym at the AXA Training Centre base in Kirkby.
Ekitike, meanwhile, suffered a ruptured Achilles against Paris Saint-Germain in April and has spent time in the United States during his recovery period working with his own physiotherapist alongside the club's medical department back on Merseyside.
Defensive cover and Champions League
Iraola has largely opted to use centre-half Ronald Araujo at right-back during Bradley's absence but started Jeremie Frimpong in the Champions League on Wednesday night as the Reds won 6-3 at LASK.
Pressed for an update on Thursday afternoon, the Reds boss says Northern Ireland international Bradley is not far off being able to play some part in training, over nine months on from the serious injury at the Emirates.
Rehabilitation progress
"They are both doing very well," Iraola said. "I think they are in a good place. Conor is not so far from training with the group – not like full training but doing some things with the group."
"Hugo is a little bit behind that but that was always the plan. He is still doing very well according to the plan."
Ekitike was at the club's training base on Thursday undertaking some skipping exercises in the gym as he looks to strengthen his Achilles on the back of the serious setback.
No timescale set
Iraola, however, is still refusing to place a timescale on when the pair can return to action, despite them being included in the club's 23-man Champions League squad for a group stage campaign that concludes in January.
He added: "It's difficult (to put a timescale on them both). When they have been injured for so long it's difficult to say but I think Conor is not very far from starting doing things with us."
