Scotland star Ben Doak is gearing up for a comeback this summer after a challenging year.
The former Celtic youngster was enjoying a fruitful loan stint at Middlesbrough last season until a hamstring injury in late January sidelined him for the rest of the campaign.
This occurred just days after his parent club Liverpool reportedly rejected £15million offers from Crystal Palace for the speedy winger, who made a splash on the Scotland scene last year in Nations League A.
Doak famously sustained an injury ahead of Euro 2024, causing him to miss the finals in Germany. His absence was keenly felt during the Nations League relegation play-off defeat to Greece in March, which resulted in Steve Clarke's team dropping from the competition's top tier.
However, in a video posted on social media, the 19 year old has begun his pre-season training early in hopes of making a strong start when he returns to the Premier League champions next month, where he aims to impress Anfield manager Arne Slot, reports the Daily Record.
In the brief video, Doak can be seen taking a shot at goal during an Empire Performance Elite session in Portugal, alongside fellow young Scottish prospects Dylan Reid and Charlie McArthur.
Since transferring from Parkhead in 2022, Doak has made 12 first-team appearances for Liverpool, but his long-term future in the red half of Merseyside remains uncertain.
In addition to interest from Palace during the winter window, Doak was also linked with a sensational move to city rivals Everton earlier this year, with fellow countryman David Moyes now back at the helm at the new Bramley Moore Dock Stadium.
Should Doak make a surprising switch to the other side of the Merseyside divide, he would be the first player to do so in 33 years.
While several players including Rangers target Conor Coady and England hero Peter Beardsley have played for both clubs during their careers, the last player to directly transfer from Liverpool to Everton was the late Gary Ablett back in 1992.
However, Doak may have been given a potential lifeline at Anfield.
Italian international Federico Chiesa is expected to depart the Reds this summer after just one season in the north-east of England, where his playing time has been extremely limited.
A return to Serie A could be on the cards for the winger, which could subsequently enhance Doak's chances of getting some game time under Slot next season.
Liverpool are splurging as they prepare for the defence of their title and broke their transfer record to secure Bayer Leverkusen playmaker Florian Wirtz for £116million last week.