Liverpool legend John Aldridge is eagerly awaiting for the return to full fitness of defender Jon Flanagan.

Flanagan burst onto the scene at Liverpool during the 2013/14 campaign but a serious knee injury has ruled him out of action for the last 18 months.

The 22-year-old full-back is now finally on the verge of making a return to fitness and Aldridge is certainly relishing the prospect of seeing the young defender back in action once again.

Aldridge wrote in the Liverpool Echo: "There has been much talk of injuries at Liverpool over the last few weeks. But one player who is rarely mentioned is edging ever closer to a first-team return. And how good will it be to see young Jon Flanagan in a red shirt again?

"This is a lad who has had rotten luck over the past 18 months. He's not kicked a competitive ball since May 2014, when he was among the best full backs in the league.

"He's a great lad, a proper Scouser with a first-class attitude. He's the kind of player you need in any squad, at any club, and the sooner we see him back on that pitch the better."