Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has handed Liverpool a huge boost and could return to full training by late February.

The midfielder has been out since April with a serious knee injury and was expected to miss the entirety of this campaign.

But after the 25-year-old returned to running at Melwood on Christmas Eve, Jurgen Klopp has revealed the player is well ahead of schedule - and could feature again this season.

"The best news was he really started going on the pitch and from the first step it looked completely normal,” Klopp said. "It's not like when players come back sometimes and start running, not really limping, but it’s not the picture you have in your mind.

“From the first step it looked like Ox, and there was no reaction, which is nicer.

“No pressure on him but it looks like he may be back in normal training in February, late February, March. So that gives us hope that he will be back this season.

“That’s the moment. We are usually not that excited about something like this, a lot of things can happen, but it looked so positive.

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See what Oxlade-Chamberlain did over the Christmas period

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Perrie Edwards visit Liverpool charity KIND

“And it’s just nice to have him around with a smile on his face again, with good reason.

“He’s obviously happy and we’re very happy about the improvement.”

Oxlade-Chamberlain was initially expected to miss all of the current campaign, which has seen the Reds move six points clear at the top of the Premier League.

And the German boss admits he's surprised by the rate of recovery from the £35million man, but did call for caution despite the optimistic outlook.

“It’s a surprise, and if anybody from the medical department listens to what I said they’ll have a breakdown," he added. “It looks really good. It needs time and each little muscle needs to adapt to the intensity.

“But what he did so far, if you look at the little sessions he does outside, it looks like he can play tomorrow.

“It’s a long way to go, but it’s a boost for the whole dressing room. He’s such an important part of that.

“If he could be back in the team that would be really good.

“We don’t know, but it’s a surprise, he’s ahead of schedule. We won’t push it too much, but we won’t hold him back.

See how Jurgen Klopp's press conference unfolded HERE

“We don’t have to talk about his progress over the next month, or couple of months.

“But if he makes further steps like he did in the last couple of weeks he can play Premier League football this season, which is nice to know.”

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James Milner, meanwhile, remains out for the clash with Arsenal following the muscle injury sustained in the win at Wolves - but could return against Manchester City on Thursday.

Dominic Solanke will also be missing, but Alberto Moreno may be back after resuming full training on Thursday.