Sobhi ready for a right old knees up!

LIVERPOOL are sweating on the fitness on three first-team stars ahead of their trip to Town this weekend.

Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk have not yet been ruled out by the club, but will be monitored over the course of this week after picking up injuries over the international break.

James Milner’s progress will also be tracked by the Merseyside outfit after the former Leeds United man suffered a hamstring injury in the clash with Manchester City on October 7, which forced him from the field.

The Liverpool Echo claim the Englishman is unlikely to return this weekend, but suggest both Salah and van Dijk could as the Reds visit the John Smith’s Stadium.

That is dependent on their individual recoveries, however, as both were called back to Liverpool from the international break due to injury.

The Egyptian winger withdrew from his national side’s squad to face Swaziland in an Africa Cup of Nations clash due to a muscle injury sustained against the same opposition on Friday.

Salah was substituted in stoppage time as a result of the knock, having scored Egypt’s fourth (in a 4-1 win) directly from a corner.

Van Dijk also returned to Liverpool early after scoring for his national side, with the centreback netting the first of three unanswered goals as the Netherlands piled misery on to Joachim Low’s Germany.

But the Oranje chose not to consider the ex-Southampton man for the friendly clash with Belgium as he continues to recover from a rib injury sustained in September’s Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain. RAMADAN Sobhi says his knee is ‘fine’ after being sidelined for the majority of Huddersfield Town’s season so far.

The Egypt international has made just one competitive appearance for the Terriers this term, coming in the 6-1 Premier League defeat to Manchester City, and has been ruled out with injury since.

But the 21-year-old is confident he is ready to return to the Town team after shaking off a knee injury over the international break. THE Football Association’s desire to have a standalone date for the FA Cup final is one of the reasons why the Premier League started earlier than other European leagues.

Speaking ahead of yesterday’s Nations League game in Spain, England manager Gareth Southgate

He told HTTV: “Yeah, I am fine. Everything is okay. “My knee is better now. “In my first training today. I am happy – I ran today.

“I am happy my knee is good now. Everything is okay.”

The No14 could be in contention to face Liverpool this weekend as the Reds visit the John Smith’s Stadium (Saturday, said he thought several of his players were mentally tired because they did not have enough time off after the World Cup this summer.

This season’s Premier League campaign started on August 10, 26 days after the World Cup final in Moscow and a week earlier than LaLiga, eight days earlier than Serie A and two weeks before the Bundesliga’s kick-off. 5.30pm), a ground Ramdan has not yet played at as a Terrier. And the Al Ahly youth product is itching to perform at his new home stadium in front of the Town faithful. “I am excited,” he said. “I am on the pitch now and happy. “In training with the team, my knee is okay. “I am excited to train and play in matches.” He added: haven’t played

I am happy my knee is good now. Everything is OK. I am happy. I ran today

“I don’t really understand why our league started so early, but they did, so it is a really difficult situation for the clubs,” said Southgate.

“Look at Tottenham, who had so many players in the semi-finals of the World Cup.

“They had to put their players straight into matches on the back of very little pre-season, so it was an impossible situation for the coaches Huddersfield Town’s stadium.

“I am excited to play in front of the fans. Next match I maybe play or maybe not.

“I am excited to play in front of the fans at the stadium.”

Ramadan went on to thank the Town staff for bringing him back to fitness after nearly two months out. He said: “[I worked] very hard. “I stayed with the staff at Huddersfield Town and worked every day. “I am now back on the pitch. “I am happy and, thanks to the staff of Huddersfield, my knee is okay.” really.” Southgate’s reference to Tottenham was significant as there has been considerable debate about his captain and Spurs star Harry Kane’s fitness this season.

The England boss did not comment on that but he did say he thought there had been more injuries at the start of the Premier League than usual and he detected a general lack of ‘psychological freshness’ in his