Rodgers: Lucas to make early Liverpool return

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has confirmed that Lucas Leiva will make a quicker than expected return to fitness over the next few weeks, as Liverpool take part in a North American tour.

Lucas, 25, could play a part as the Reds take on Toronto, Roma and Tottenham in the coming weeks, having been expected to miss the start of the season.

The Brazilian central-midfielder has been out of action since damaging tendons in a League Cup fixture with Chelsea.

"He’ll have some involvement. He’s still got some way to go to get back to where he was before the injury but he’s back two months early," Rodgers said.

"This is normally a nine month injury. He’s been back in seven, and that’s great credit to his work and the work of the medics here.

"He’s done very, very well and is working very hard. We can feed him into some of the games and increase his mental capacity to improve, because obviously it was a serious injury.

"He’s a great guy, he loves his football, loves this club, and he’s making great progress."