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LIVERPOOL are confident Mario Balotelli will be available to face Crystal Palace next weekend with the Italian’s hamstring injury not as bad as first feared.

Balotelli was sent home from international duty with Italy with the problem, suffered in training on Friday.

It meant he missed his country’s Euro 2016 qualifier with Croatia on Sunday, and was also ruled out of their friendly against Albania on Tuesday night.

Liverpool, though, have been encouraged by initial medical reports, and Balotelli is expected to be fit for Sunday’s trip to Selhurst Park.

The news will come as a major boost to Reds boss Brendan Rodgers, who could also have Daniel Sturridge available for the first time since late-August.

The England frontman has missed his side’s last 14 games through a combination of thigh and calf injuries, but has returned to full training at Melwood in the last week, and is in line to make his long-awaited return this weekend.

Sturridge’s comeback raises the prospect of Rodgers switching to a two-man attack at Crystal Palace.

The Reds boss has been denied the chance to pair Sturridge and Balotelli, but was encouraged by what he saw when the duo started together at Tottenham in August. Liverpool won 3-0 that afternoon, in what was their most coherent, dangerous performance of the season. Balotelli is yet to score a league goal for the club, but it is hoped that Sturridge’s return can help coax an improvement from the 24-year-old, who has often looked an isolated figure as his side have struggled generally for form.

Both Fabio Borini and Rickie Lambert are also in contention for striking places, but neither have managed a goal in 18 appearances between them, hence Rodgers’ desperation to have Sturridge back fit.