Liverpool fans react as Naby Keita returns to training

© Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images SportLiverpool v Leicester City - Premier League

Naby Keita has endured constant battles with injury and fitness since his arrival at Liverpool in 2018.

Whilst few have questioned the Guinean midfielder's ability, pleas for the 25-year-old's continued fitness have thus far fallen on deaf ears, including recently as the former RB Leipzig man sits out another set of fixtures.

The optimism surrounding the impact of Keita was perhaps heightened more than most incoming singings as the Reds sealed the deal a year before the player arrived at Anfield.

Since his debut in the resounding 4-0 victory over West Ham on the opening day of the 2018/19 season, Keita has appeared just 49 times in the subsequent 96 Premier League fixtures.

The "world-class" midfielder with a creative streak has returned to the training pitch today, as shared by Anfield Insider on Twitter, and many Kopites have reacted on social media with a mixture of hope, inevitability and gallows humour.

Naby Keita and Diogo Jota pictured in training ??#LFC #Keita #Jota pic.twitter.com/1jPepgmdjH

- Anfield Insider (@AnfieIdInsider) February 3, 2021

Here's a pick of the responses from Reds fans on Twitter.

Twitter: Naby Këita has found a new job at Liverpool. https://t.co/1OVmQzCnTi (@AnfieldPyro)

Twitter: @TheAnfieldTalk If Naby and Jota can stay fit for the rest of the season, we're a different animal (@BCarauleanu)

Twitter: @TheAnfieldTalk Someone needs to take that off him. He's going to do his back in. (@KiratRehal)

Twitter: @TheAnfieldTalk Be out for another 6 weeks now with a bad back (@tomo_pst)

Twitter: It's great to have Naby Keita back, but we all know he'll be injured again in a week. No point in making him part of any plans. (@NiqeLfc)

Twitter: @empireofthekop Until 2 or 3 games and another injurie! When fit world class player, but can't play more than 3 games in row. (@FelipeCardoso99)