Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is upbeat about Alberto Aquilani's availability after a week of full-scale training.

The former Roma midfielder is perhaps just two weeks away from making his debut for Liverpool.

"Aquilani has been training - he's had two sessions with the team," Benitez told Liverpoolfc.tv. "Physically he can improve but at least now he can play football with the team. It's very positive.

"It depends how he progresses physically. In terms of the problem he had with his ankle, he has to keep training. We'll be away this weekend so he has time to improve.

"Hopefully in the next week he'll continue with the team, then it's a question of his match fitness, nothing else."