Raheem Sterling's performances on international duty this week have caught the eye of Liverpool FC manager Brendan Rodgers.
The teenage winger produced bright displays for England under-21s in games against Romania and Austria with the Reds boss taking note.
Sterling was a regular starter in the Liverpool side in the first half of the campaign but has been used more selectively since the turn of the year.
With Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge signed in January, Rodgers has been able to take some of the attacking burden off Sterling and give the 18-year-old much needed rest.
And the Liverpool boss has been delighted with the way in which Sterling has responded to the break and took encouragement from his performances for Stuart Pearce's side.
Sterling has shown Rodgers signs that the spark with which he played earlier in the campaign is returning.
England coach Brian Eastick praised the Anfield boss for the manner in which he has taken the pressure off Sterling in recent weeks, saying the youngster now looks refreshed and back to his best.
The Jamaican born wide man, who signed a new five year contract with Liverpool in December, has started just four games in 2013 having clocked up 18 starts from August through to the end of the calendar year.
But with just eight games of the season remaining and Liverpool still in the hunt to qualify for Europe, Sterling's return to form provides another option for Rodgers.
The teenager missed out on Liverpool's game with Southampton but may well have done enough to be back in the squad for Sunday's game with Aston Villa.
Liverpool welcome the squad back to Melwood today following the international break with no fresh injury concerns expected.
Glen Johnson is thought to have come through England's game against Montenegro on Tuesday night without complaint after nursing a toe injury earlier in the week.
Source: Liverpool Echo
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