Liverpool FC news: Injured star RETURNS

Arne Slot has some difficult squad decisions coming up. Liverpool have welcomed back one star for the busy Christmas period, though.

DaveOCKOP reports that Federico Chiesa is back in full training with Liverpool. The Italian has barely featured this season since joining the Reds at the end of August.

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And the report claims that's deliberate. Apparently, the reasons for Chiesa's recent absence have been 'exaggerated' and the Italian hasn't really been injured.

Instead, Liverpool held him back from first-team activities in order to give him his own pre-season. Now he's had that, Chiesa is available for selection.

Though, it's not easy to gauge whether Arne Slot would feel comfortable throwing Chiesa straight into the action. We imagine the Manchester City fixture, for instance, is the wrong one to suddenly welcome the Italian back to the first team.

But who knows? Slot may spring a surprise on Sunday.

Federico Chiesa available

Chiesa has been a bizarre signing so far. He arrived as the ultimate Moneyball transfer - a player wildly undervalued in the transfer market and whose potential was massive.

But we've barely seen him since. Chiesa has played just 78 minutes across three appearances, with his only start coming in the EFL Cup against West Ham United.

Now, Liverpool believe that's down to his lack of a pre-season and it's certainly true he didn't get one. Juventus decided early on that they wouldn't persist with Chiesa and failed to include him in their preparation for the season.

And so Chiesa didn't arrive at Liverpool fully fit. The Reds will hope their private fitness plan works in getting him up to speed - so perhaps the winger can play a role over the busy Christmas period.

Not one to write off just yet, then. We should finally get to see more of Chiesa in a Liverpool shirt.

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