Ashley Cole and Gary Cahill returned to training on Friday, Rafael Benitez has reported.
The pair have been out for the past three weeks, but after assessment tomorrow could feature against Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.
‘It is good news,’ Benitez said. ‘We have had Gary Cahill and Ashley Cole training today so that was really positive. Also Marko Marin, who wasn’t training. There are no problems apart from Oriol Romeu, the rest of the squad is fit. Maybe it is too early, but we will see tomorrow after another training session.’
The manager was also asked about the fitness of John Terry, who scored twice against Fulham on Wednesday night.
‘He is fine, he is training with the team,’ the Spaniard confirmed. ‘He had a plan at the beginning and is now training with the rest of the team. He is an important player for us. If I pick him it’s because I think he is fine, if not it’s because I think a team-mate will be better for this game.
‘We have a lot of important games to play and we have to be sure everybody can give 100 per cent. I am really pleased with the commitment of every player.’
Benitez is expected to rotate his side further following Wednesday’s win at Fulham, and is determined to acquire the victory that will keep us in the Barclays Premier League’s top three.
‘The game against Fulham was very important. We needed to be sure we were back in the top three and now every game will be important,’ he said.
‘It’s Liverpool now. If we can get three points, we are in the top three, and hopefully it will be the same until the end. I don’t see the fixtures of the other teams, just our next game.
‘We have enough quality and experience in the squad. We have good momentum so we’ll try to keep this.’
Manager of Liverpool from 2004 until 2010, Benitez says he will be fully focused on beating his former employers.
‘I am a professional so I will try to do my best to achieve the targets here,’ he explained. ‘I have a lot of friends and good memories so it will be emotional, but I will try to concentrate on the game and do my best for 90 minutes.’
Two of Benitez’s key figures this season, Eden Hazard and Juan Mata, were today nominated for the PFA Player of the Year award, as was Liverpool forward Luis Suarez.
‘We are really pleased. They showed the level of quality they have. I am really pleased and really proud of them,’ he said, adding on Suarez: ‘Everybody here has seen Suarez playing every game. He is a key player for Liverpool, a fantastic player.’