Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says Daniel Sturridge could be fit for their Premier League clash at Swansea City on Monday despite the striker missing both of England's World Cup qualifiers because of an injury.
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Sturridge has scored in each of Liverpool's three 1-0 victories which have propelled them to the top of the league and Rodgers is hopeful he will return to help continue his side's best start to a season for 19 years.
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A quick recovery from the thigh strain that prevented him playing for his country against Moldova and Ukraine could raise eyebrows, but Rodgers said Sturridge's commitment to England should not be questioned.
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"It was the medical experts who made the decision - it wasn't Daniel Sturridge," Rodgers told a news conference.
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"He left the game against Manchester United injured, he's gone away and the great medical staff they have at England and the experts they have there deemed him not quite fit enough for the first game (against Moldova).
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"He returned back and there was a slight improvement, but obviously (England manager) Roy (Hodgson) and his staff have to make the decision on whether he's going to be right or available. Obviously at that stage, he wasn't.
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"But by the time we play on Monday, it'll be nearly two weeks and for a grade one strain, people in football and the experts who know better than I will you tell you it is perfectly reasonable to be back playing in that timescale," Rodgers added.
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"He shouldn't be held as someone who has turned down his country."
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Liverpool are riding a wave of optimism, especially after beating Manchester United before the international break, and Rodgers' squad will be bolstered by the availability of three new faces against Swansea.