The 29-year-old return to training on Sunday after recovering from a knee injury but will miss Tuesday’s fixture against the Bulgarian champions at Anfield

Martin Skrtel has been ruled out of Liverpool’s Champions League clash with Ludogorets despite returning to training on Sunday.

The 29-year-old has missed Liverpool’s last two Premier League matches with a knee injury, meaning that Dejan Lovren and Mamadou Sakho were paired together in central defence in the win over Tottenham and Saturday’s defeat at home to Aston Villa.

And Brendan Rodgers has revealed the Slovakia international has returned to training but will not feature in Tuesday’s match.

“Martin has worked very hard. He joined the group yesterday, so he is working well,” the manager told reporters. “It’s probably too early for this game but after a good week’s training he should be ready for West Ham.

“Apart from that, we’re pretty much the same in terms of injuries.”

Daniel Sturridge continues to be sidelined with a thigh injury, while midfield duo Joe Allen and Emre Can and Glen Johnson and Jon Flanagan will also miss Tuesday’s clash against the Bulgarian champions at Anfield due to injury.