LIVERPOOL -- Captain Jordan Henderson is in contention to end a three-month injury absence after urging Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp to play him against Swansea on Sunday.
Henderson has not played since Aug. 17, initially because of a bruised heel and then because of a broken bone in his foot, but the midfielder is now back in full training and may face the Swans at Anfield.
Klopp is wary of risking Henderson too soon, but has no problems with his attitude.
The manager said: "Henderson wants to return. I'm waiting for him. He's always at the door, saying: 'Give me 10 minutes, give me five minutes.' I like this, but it's not always the best thing to do.
"It's about how we adapt him to the intensity of the way we work. Everything we do is 120 percent.
"He needs to be fit, really fit, not 50 percent. If he's fit, then we can use him."
Klopp will make a late decision on playmaker Philippe Coutinho, who missed Thursday's 2-1 Europa League victory over Bordeaux with a hamstring injury.
Joe Allen is likely to start in midfield against his former club as Lucas Leiva serves a one-match suspension for collecting five bookings.
Klopp said: "I hope Lucas is not a big miss. That wouldn't be too good. He's improved since I've been here. He's adapted his style and got better.
"He's a really good personality and that's important in his position. That's a good situation. But even Lucas can't play all the games.
"Joe Allen played 60 very good minutes against Bordeaux. We took him off because we had the Swansea match in mind."
Meanwhile, centre-back Mamdou Sakho has indicated that he will be back at around Christmas time, having suffered medial knee ligament damage during the home defeat against Crystal Palace earlier this month.
He told Liverpool's official website: "I'm very happy because I think it's good news.
"Everyone thought I had a big injury for a long time. But, thank God, I think it will be between four and six weeks. Now I feel much better, I work and I hope I will come back as soon as possible."
Teenage midfielder Jordan Rossiter is likely to figure for Liverpool in an Under-21 Premier League match against Manchester United on Monday after more than a month out with a hamstring problem sustained on England under-19 duty.