Roberto Firmino is back in first team training for Liverpool.
And judging by a video released by LFCTV, it looks like his teammates have missed him.
The players are all smiles as they make their way onto the pitch at the AXA Training Centre.
Sadio Mane is the first out, chanting “Bobby’s back! Bobby’s back! Bobby’s back!” before posing for a picture with his Brazilian teammate.
Virgil Van Dijk is also clearly enjoying himself.
The Dutchman certainly isn’t camera shy, as he tells the viewers “Bobby, Naby, Joe, beautiful. What a sight”
Naby Keita and Joe Gomez were also in training. The pair both got minutes in midweek against AC Milan after layoffs of their own.
The Reds are then seen gearing up to begin their usual “rondos” exercise as Van Dijk declares “Bobby is back, now let him go in the middle!”
Firmino on fire
Liverpool fans will be equally as excited about seeing their number 9 back involved.
Firmino had been missing since a hamstring injury forced him off in the first half of Liverpool’s win over Atletico Madrid at the start of November.
Jurgen Klopp’s side have won six of their seven games since then.
But “Bobby” has averaged a goal every 93 minutes in the Premier League this season and he plays a crucial role in giving Mane and Mohamed Salah the freedom to wreak havoc.
Not all good news
Mane and Salah are of course heading to AFCON in the new year, which makes Firmino’s return all the more timely.
It wasn’t all good news for Liverpool though. Diogo Jota was notable by his absence, which will be cause for concern ahead of Klopp losing his African contingent in just a few weeks time.
With Jota missing, Firmino could slot straight back into the starting line up for Saturday’s game against Aston Villa.
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