Atletico Madrid handed injury boost ahead of Liverpool Champions League clash with Diego Costa, Alvaro Morata and Joao Felix set to return

The LaLiga club have been without seven first-team players in recent weeks but as many as six of those could be ready for the first leg of their Champions League round-of-16 tie on February 18.

Diego Costa, Alvaro Morata, Joao Felix, Santiago Arias, Jose Jimenez, Hector Herrera and Kieran Trippier have all been sidelined with injury.

AS report that Trippier is the only player who will definitely be absent from the first leg with a groin injury – though he could be back for the return fixture next month.

Costa has been recovering from back surgery and has now returned to training and could feature. The second leg was initially his target but he believes he will be ready for the first.

Morata and Felix have both been suffering with leg injuries but are likely to return for Atletico's LaLiga clash with Valencia on Friday.

LIVE on talkSPORT

Southampton vs Burnley (Saturday, 12:30pm) - talkSPORT

West Brom vs Nottingham Forest (Saturday, 12:30pm) - talkSPORT 2

Leeds vs Bristol City (Saturday, 3pm) - talkSPORT 2

Norwich vs Liverpool (Saturday, 5:30pm) - talkSPORT

Arias is expected to fill in for Trippier at right-back having also been out with a groin injury while Herrera will return from a knock.

Jimenez has been suffering with injury problems all season but he is training with the squad and is likely to be fit.

Liverpool will be hopeful of Sadio Mane being fit for the first match at the Wanda Metropolitano next week.

The forward recently returned to training following a hamstring injury he picked up in their 2-1 win over Wolves.

Atletico Madrid could have some of their star names back from injury in time for their clash with Liverpool next week.