Danny Ings’ last start for Liverpool was while Brendan Rodgers was still in charge of the club but his wait could be over this weekend.

Jurgen Klopp is considering whether to select Ings in the FA Cup tie against West Bromwich Albion. The striker has been limited to substitute appearances as his arduous road to recovery following two serious knee injuries draws to an end.

Reproducing the sharpness that made the start to his Liverpool career so encouraging has been tough for the former Burnley striker, opportunities rare as Liverpool have sought to progress in the Premier League and Europe.

But with Klopp reluctant to let Ings leave on loan as the club continues to fight on three fronts, it is only a matter of time before three years of Anfield agony is over.

It was October 4, 2015, when Ings was last named in Liverpool’s starting line-up. A 1-1 draw in the Merseyside derby proved to Rodgers’ last game in charge. Ings scored in that fixture. Within two weeks Klopp had taken over, only for Ings to rupture his cruciate ligament in the new manager’s first training session. Ings than suffered the same injury last season.

The dilemma for Klopp is how many changes to make given his determination to end Liverpool’s trophy drought this season and Ings is one of several players eager for game time but short of match sharpness.