The current international break has been extremely poorly timed from Liverpool's point of view.

Having won three games out of three, the Reds are on the march during the early days of the Premier Legaue season.

With 16 players away for their senior national teams and another four with youth sides, Liverpool will be hoping and praying for no injury issues.

Without a game even played yet, Alexis Mac Allister has missed Argentina training and Harvey Elliott has been sent home from England U21s.

But while that will cause a worry, Arne Slot can rest safe in the knowledge that some positive news is coming out of the AXA Training Centre at the same time.

As amazing as the Jurgen Klopp years were at Anfield, the trade off for the brilliance was that Liverpool were plagued terribly by injuries.

For whatever reason, Liverpool simply could not keep their full compliment fit for any length of time.

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With Ruben Peeters installed as the Reds new head of conditioning, there is hope that that can change. And the early signs are very good.

The one exception to that has been Curtis Jones. Jones has not yet featured in competitive action under Slot, being named on the bench for the opening day win over Ipswich before picking up a knock.

But having missed the past two matches, the Liverpool ECHO now report that Jones is 'winning his battle' to be fit to face Nottingham Forest on September the 14th.

The midfielder has reportedly been 'rehabbing' at the AXA Training Centre over the last few days and is expected to be ready in time for the Forest game.

Curtis Jones playing catch-up You do have to feel for Jones in way. The academy graduate was gushing in his excitement to play under Slot, with the Dutchman's system allowing for more influence from midfield.

And with Liverpool unable to sign Martin Zubimendi over the summer, the door was open for Jones to stamp his mark on that position.

However, Ryan Gravenberch has come to the fore in his absence. The Dutchman has looked like a different player this term.

As a result, where Curtis may have expected to be one of Slot's starting midfielders, he now looks comfortably like back-up to Gravenberch.

Unless the Netherlands international picks up a problem while he's away, you'd imagine that will remain the same for Forest. Small steps, though, for now it'll be nice just to have Jones available once again.