Lucas Leiva has handed Liverpool a major boost by returning to full training after spending 12 weeks out of action with a thigh injury.

The Brazilian midfielder hasn’t featured for the Reds since limping off during the early stages of the 2-2 draw with Manchester City on August 26 – just his fourth appearance since recovering from a cruciate knee ligament injury sustained last November.

Despite that setback, the 25-year-old is now on the comeback trail, joining his team-mates at the club’s Melwood training facility on Wednesday and tweeted his delight at being back in the fold.

“Happy to be back and feeling good,” he said. “Just get some more training session and I hope I will be available soon.”

Reds boss Brendan Rodgers won’t be able to call upon Lucas for Saturday’s meeting with Wigan at Anfield but he is being pencilled in to feature in the Europa League clash with Young Boys next Thursday.

“Lucas has worked tirelessly in his rehabilitation, so he comes back out on to the field in a good moment,” he told reporters.

“He won’t be ready to play for the weekend, but certainly over the next couple of weeks he’ll be very close.”