Egypt international striker Mido could be on the way back at Middlesbrough.
Mido has been out injured since October but is close to a first-team comeback.
Boro boss Gareth Southgate said: "We're hoping Mido can have involvement of some sort against Liverpool (on January 12).
"We've got to take it step by step and he certainly won't be ready to start, but if we can have him involved in the squad it would be a nice situation."