Harvey Elliott has revealed he is ‘100 per cent’ ready to start for Liverpool and has thanked Arne Slot and his coaching team for not rushing him back from injury.

The 21-year-old suffered a broken foot in September which has prevented him from starting a game so far under Slot. Elliott missed over three months of football before returning to the side in 2-0 win over Manchester City on 1 December.

He has since made two further substitute appearances, including against his former side Fulham at the weekend. But with a heavily rotated side expected to start at Southampton in Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup clash, Elliott is likely to be including in the XI.

READ MORE: Liverpool faces losing Mohamed Salah next season even if he signs a new deal at Anfield

READ MORE: Premier League confirms major update to Liverpool game with Man City at Etihad

• Liverpool could be missing 5 players vs Southampton as Harvey Elliott return edges closer

• 3 Liverpool players who must take chance vs Southampton as Wataru Endo can fix problem

The midfielder confirmed he is ready to start and told Liverpool’s official website : “I feel fit, I feel 100 per cent, it’s just taking a bit of time – as it does after every injury.

“I wasn’t really quite there as much as I thought in my head that I was and the coaching staff and the manager could see that, and I think it was a mature decision to keep me part of it but not throw me in as quick as possible and I feel like it’s helped me now.

“It’s built me up and I am hungrier than ever to get back out on the pitch and to help my team, to help the club, and I feel like now I am in a position where I feel 100 per cent again and now I’m just raring to go.”

After three substitute appearances since returning from injury, Elliott said he will need a few starts under his belt before he has fully rebuilt his fitness again.

“It’s a completely different [type of] fitness,” he explained. “Nothing can compare to match fitness and I feel like that’s what I need and I’m sure I’ll get it. It’s just about me working as hard as I can now in training and proving to them that I am ready. I’m just waiting for my opportunity now.”

Elliott played 53 times last season in Jurgen Klopp ’s final campaign on Merseyside - only Darwin Nunez made more appearances - but Liverpool’s no.19 isn’t expecting to play such an integral just yet under Slot.

“I don’t want to put pressure on myself because last season and the seasons before when I was playing a fair amount I never did that, so for me to do that now because I’ve been out for a long time would be wrong.”