'I'm ready for when the boss needs me'
Mamadou Sakho is under no illusions about the size of the challenge facing him upon his return to full fitness, but it is a test that the French defender is keen to embrace in Liverpool's final nine games.
The 24-year-old has not featured for the Reds' first team since December 29 after suffering injury in the 2-1 defeat by Chelsea - a problem which developed along a different path to originally expected.
Determined to recover as quickly as possible, the powerful centre-back turned out for the U21s earlier in March and was rewarded with a place among the substitutes at Manchester United.
From the bench on Sunday, Sakho watched his in-form teammates rack up a satisfying 3-0 victory and, perhaps most pertinently for him, Brendan Rodgers' side record a second successive clean sheet.
He knows the difficulty awaiting him with regard to ousting either Daniel Agger or Martin Skrtel from the boss' starting XI - but that will not stop the No.17 from giving everything to achieve that goal.
Sakho, who has made 13 appearances in his debut season at Anfield, explained to the Liverpool Echo: "I feel good now and I was delighted to be on the bench for the United game.
"Two-and-a-half months is a long time to be out and it was tough. It took much longer than we thought but I had to listen to my body.
"Initially we thought it was the muscle in my hamstring but it turned out to be the tendon which was causing the problem and that took more time to heal. I worked really closely with the medical staff to get back.
"It will be difficult to get back in the team because everyone is playing well, but at a big club like Liverpool you expect competition for places.
"Things are never easy in football. I am working hard and I am ready for when the manager needs me. There are still nine games to play and a lot to play for. I also need to win my place in the France squad for the World Cup."
Taking a longer-term view of his maiden campaign as a Liverpool player - Sakho signed on transfer deadline day in September 2013 - the France international has been buoyed by progress so far.
Having initially been attracted to Rodgers' 'exciting' project when he completed a switch from Paris Saint-Germain, he has declared himself 'very happy' with how his Reds career has unfolded.
"This was a project that really excited me," Sakho said. "It's a young, talented squad with a great manager. It was something I really wanted to be a part of. I am very happy here.
"Our first objective this season was to qualify for the Champions League and we're in a great position to achieve that. We want to finish as high as we possibly can.
"The United game was great to watch. A result like that counts for a lot. Liverpool have got better and better since the start of the season."