Joe Cole returns for Liverpool against Steaua

With the news that vice-captain Jamie Carragher is due to miss the next three months of first team action, Liverpool will be glad to welcome back midfielder Joe Cole for the match against Steaua Bucharest.

The England midfielder, who wasn’t risked for the weekend loss against Spurs, will make his first appearance for five weeks on Thursday. He is expected to start in the continued absence of Steven Gerrard, and is attractively priced at 9/1 to grab a goal in the game.

The Merseyside club need just a single point from the match in Bucharest to reach the knockout stages, while a win would take them through as group winners. A convincing 2-0 win is also priced at 9/1, with a draw appearing at 11/5. When the sides met in Liverpool earlier this season, the Kop witnessed a 4-1 victory, with goals coming from Cole, Lucas and a brace from N'Gog.

Reds boss Roy Hodgson is expected to name a weakened side, resting key players such as Fernando Torres, Dirk Kuyt and Raul Meireles in preparation for Monday’s evening match against Aston Villa. He will defend Liverpool’s unbeaten run in Europe this season with a string of fringe players.

£2 million summer signing Danny Wilson is expected to replace Carragher in defence for his 2nd start in a reds shirt, and may be joined in the squad by reserve teammates John Flanagan, Jack Robinson, Daniel Pacheco and Nathan Eccleston.

"I have faith in the young players and whatever happens on Thursday night I won't lose faith in them" Hodgson stated. “It is an opportunity for them to force their way into my attention”.

The former Rangers centre back will likely partner Sotirios Kyrgiakos in a makeshift back four.