Liverpool first team coach Mike Marsh has confirmed that Fabio Borini has returned to full training after missing more than three months of action due to dislocating his shoulder while playing against Swansea in February.

The Italian striker has endured a difficult first season on Merseyside and has only managed to start five Premier League games after a series of injuries have kept him on the sidelines.

Borini is yet to open his account in the league since joining from Roma last summer but may have an opportunity before the end of the season with first choice forward Luis Suarez ruled out through suspension.

Marsh confirmed that Borini will be in contention to start on the bench this weekend against Newcastle United after training with the first team at Melwood.

"It has gone really well. He's been involved in training for the last week or so, non-contact," Marsh told the official Liverpool website. "He had the all-clear from the surgeon and joined in during the last couple of days and it's looking really good.

"He might be included on the bench at the weekend, it might be the week after. He's coming to the time when he can be included off the bench pretty soon.

"It's been difficult for him - he's picked up a couple of serious injuries which kept him out for the majority of the season. We've hardly been able to use him so it will be like an extra player. We're looking forward to that."

Liverpool have just four games remaining and will have to get used to playing without Suarez who will miss the first six games of next season after being hit with a ten game ban for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic.

While it has been a bitterly disappointing season for the Reds they will hope to produce a strong finish as they attempt to make up the five point gap to local rivals Everton.