Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has expressed his confidence that striker David Ngog will return from a hamstring lay-off in time for this weekend's game with Birmingham City, whilst admitting Dirk Kuyt could spend a lengthy spell out of action.
Ngog withdrew from the France under-21 squad after sustaining the injury but it is thought that the striker's swift recovery will allow him to feature at St Andrew's.
Speaking to the club's official website, Hodgson said: "He has been nursing a problem but is much better now.
"We were obliged to withdraw him from the French U21 squad because when they got together 10 days ago he wasn't fit.
"The French people were very good about that and realized there was a problem.
"I am hoping that he will recover in time for this weekend.
"We have nursed him through and hopefully he will train either today or Friday."
Ngog's recovery presented his manager with some promising news. However, Hodgson received a blow this week with the news that Dirk Kuyt had picked up a shoulder injury during his time with the Dutch national team.
It was originally thought that the forward would face a spell of four weeks on the sidelines but the injury could rule Kuyt out for longer, Hodgson revealed.
"It could be more than four weeks," he said.
"It's one of those injuries where it's very difficult for the doctor to say and I think four weeks is a very conservative estimate.
"If we're lucky it could be earlier, but it could be longer.
"We have to be very careful because it's the type of injury that has to be treated with a lot of respect."
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