Brendan Rodgers has been given a double defensive boost ahead of the Champions League play-off with Hapoel Beer Sheva with Erik Sviachenko and Dedryck Boyata both back to fitness.
Sviachenko missed the matches against Astana due to a groin injury while Boyata hasn’t played since November.
Both players took a full part in training yesterday and are expected to play at some stage in tonight’s friendly against Inter Milan.
Boyata will need a couple of games to reach match fitness but a fully fit Sviachenko will present Rodgers with some defensive options.
Kolo Toure’s arrival and the emergence of Eoghan O’Connell could point towards a back three that includes Sviachenko or Rodgers could go with a more traditional back four and decide between Sviachenko and O’Connell who should partner Toure.
While Rodgers assesses his defensive options the Irishman put a further stamp on his attacking plans in midweek by giving James Forrest and Tom Rogic new contracts.
Both players were within a year of their deals ending with Forrest pleased to have secured another contract at the only club he has ever known.
“I said to him (Rodgers) I wanted to stay and he said to come back in pre-season and show us what you have got and that everybody would get the same chance to impress,” the winger explained.
“All the boys have come in and it is a clean slate for everyone. You just need to keep performing. We have a lot of players in the squad and if you are not doing it the manager can change it.
“I have been fine for maybe two years now, but you get fitter the more you train and play. At the end of last season I was feeling fit but wasn’t playing games. It is just about playing as many games as you can.”
