McManaman and fellow midfielder David Thompson grabbed the goals as Liverpool beat Bradford City 2-0, on Tuesday.

But of more importance was that the winger emerged unscathed from his first match for almost six weeks with no apparent reaction to his Achilles tendon injury.

He now looks set to return to first team duties against Middlesborough on Saturday.

Recent long-term injury victims Rob Jones and Oyvind Leonhardsen also had run-outs in the reserve match, but Frenchman Jean-Michel Ferri had not recovered sufficiently from an ankle injury.

'A breath of fresh air'

Team mate Jamie Redknapp was delighted at the prospect of McManaman's return.

"Macca will be a breath of fresh air to us when he comes back because he's such a lively player. He's one of the best I have ever seen and of course you miss a player of that calibre," he said.

McManaman says he does not want to move

McManaman's comeback could create a tactical problem for Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier who will almost certainly have to change the side's system to accommodate the 26-year-old.

Houllier has stuck with a 5-3-2 formation in McManaman's absence from which midfield trio Paul Ince, Jamie Redknapp and Patrik Berger are unlikely to be displaced.

That means Liverpool may have to revert to a 4-4-2 style, with either Phil Babb or Stig Bjornebye stepping down.

McManaman's last match for the club was the home defeat against Derby County at the beginning of November.

Within five days of that game, Roy Evans, the man credited with nurturing the England international's talent, resigned as co-manager.

McManaman's return to the team is also likely to renew transfer speculation about the Liverpool-born player.