Liverpool injury news: Coutinho could feature for Brazil against Japan after returning to training

Liverpool have been handed a major injury boost ahead of their clash against Southampton on 18 November after Philippe Coutinho returned to training with the Brazil national team.

The Reds midfielder has missed the club's last three games across all competitions since aggravating his adductor during Liverpool's humbling at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur on 22 October. He sat out the games against Huddersfield Town and West Ham United in the Premier League and Maribor in the Champions League.

Despite being sidelined with the injury, Coutinho travelled for international duty with Brazil for their friendly clashes against Japan and England during the ongoing international break. The South American team's doctor Rodrigo Lasmar confirmed the midfielder's injury and revealed that he is in the final phase of his recovery.

Lasmar indicated that the midfielder's best hope for action will be against England as he may not be fit to take part in the game against Japan on Friday (10 November). But according to the Liverpool Echo, the Brazilian could be on the bench against the Asian team, after returning to training with the ball on Wednesday.

Coutinho's return to action will come as a major boost to Jurgen Klopp, who will hope to have him fit for the clash against Southampton. The clash against the Saints is followed by a difficult trip to Sevilla in the Champions League and the visit of Premier League champions Chelsea to Anfield.

The 25-year-old, who continues to be linked with a move to Barcelona in January, has made just nine appearances in all competitions thus far this campaign. He missed the start of the season with a back injury and the last three games with a muscle injury in the adductor of the left thigh.

Coutinho is not the only player on the verge of a return as Klopp is set to welcome Adam Lallana back into the first-team fold following the player's recovery from a thigh injury. The England international has not made a single appearance this season after picking up the injury during Liverpool's pre-season commitments at the Audi Cup in Germany.

Lallana is expected to return to training with the first-team players that have stayed back at Anfield during the break with a Telegraph report suggesting that the German manager is planning to organise a behind-closed-doors match to help the midfielder build match fitness.