Jon Flanagan continued his injury comeback with a 45-minute cameo for Liverpool Under-21s on Tuesday afternoon, in their 4-0 friendly win over Morecambe.
The full-back has not made a competitive appearance since the last game of the 2013-14 season having been ravaged by a knee injury which has twice required surgery.
But having returned to first-team training earlier last month and making a 30-minute appearance for the U21s before the New Year, the Scouse defender stepped up his recovery another notch - playing the full first-half in another behind-closed-doors friendly at Kirkby Academy.
Michael Beale's charges ran out comfortable winners on the afternoon with goals from Daniel Trickett-Smith, Sam Hart, Harry Wilson and Adam Phillips enough to give them a deserved victory.
And Flanagan looked comfortable throughout the first 45 minutes, playing alongside Allan Rodrigues de Souza, Ryan McLaughlin and Jose Enrique in an experienced XI.
U21s boss encouraged by Flanagan's progress
Kevin Stewart also played on his return from injury, as manager Beale reflected to Liverpoolfc.com afterwards, saying that it was "great to give Flanno 45 minutes after his half-an-hour against Fleetwood."
Beale explained that the 23-year-old "did very well" and "is looking stronger" - insisting he will "now look to push on in the next few weeks and get some more minutes."
Beale also said Enrique "did very well" whilst called Stewart's return "excellent" given that it was his "first outing since injury back in September."
Flanagan, who enjoyed an incredible rise to become one of the most prominent members of the first-team throughout the title-challenging campaign of 2013-14, sees his contract at the club run out later this year.
He is currently free to speak to non-English clubs with the view to arranging a transfer at the end of his deal, which would only see Liverpool owed a nominal fee of £250,000 compensation.
However, the no-nonsense No.38, who has made 42 first-team appearances and scored one goal since his debut in April 2011, will no doubt be keen to prove he warrants a place in Jürgen Klopp's first-team when he finds full fitness.