Danny Ings is closing in on a full return to fitness and could feature before the end of the season, prompting a tribute to the striker from Jürgen Klopp today.

The Englishman has been out of action since last October following an anterior cruciate ligament injury which brought a sudden halt to an impressive run of form.

Ings has spent the past seven months in rehabilitation and shown his strength of character and resolve in recovering quickly enough to re-join training and perhaps give the manager a fresh option in the coming weeks.

Klopp said: “That’s very good news. I saw a lot of his sessions with the rehab department. It has looked really good for a few weeks.

“I heard about [the tribunal] for the first time since I’ve been in England. I’m not a specialist and can’t say anything about the amount of money or something like this.

“We respect the decision, that’s what I can say. For me as a manager, it’s more important that the player is close to being available hopefully.

“We have to see. I didn’t see the session yesterday, I have to speak to the U21 coach and Danny. We have a few games to play and we’ll see what happens.

“We will see if there is an opportunity this season and if we should try it then or not. Or if he should use the summer break for improving everything and then he will start 100 per cent in pre-season.

“That’s very good for us. Now this new point of development with being back in training is very good for him.”

The boss added: “He’s a great guy. I have had half an hour with him on the pitch – it was so unlucky I can’t believe. Since then I know much more about him as a person than as a professional football player.

“So if he is as good as a player as he is as a person, we can really look forward to seeing him on the pitch.

“In a very difficult moment in your career, very young, not the best news, it can help you build character for sure. My opinion is that he already had a good basis on the character side. Now, 100 per cent, he has developed.

“It’s the same with Joe Gomez, to be honest. It’s a little bit more complicated injury, so it will need a little bit more time but he is the same kind of guy.

“It is really good to have them here. I have had a lot of good moments with these two boys, having lunch and talking about private things. That’s really nice. We’re waiting for their comeback on the pitch.”