Liverpool left-back Luke Chambers is nearing a return after spending the majority of the year out with a back injury that has troubled the 21-year-old’s development.It is nearly two years since Chambers was in Liverpool’s first-team squad, with a role on the bench in the 2-0 FA Cup win over Arsenal in January 2024 his last matchday involvement.The left-back has taken in two consecutive spells on loan at Wigan since then, but a season-long return to the Latics in the last campaign ended early.Suffering a persistent back issue, Chambers returned to Liverpool for treatment in March and has not featured in any capacity since.But This Is Anfield understands he could now be in line for a return before the end of the year, with optimism over his recovery.Liverpool planning behind-closed-doors friendliesAny involvement would be with the U21s, who do not have another competitive fixture until January 9 but are set to schedule a number of friendlies in the final weeks of 2025.“We’ve got a few friendlies planned in December. We’ve got some opportunities and windows to play, which we will do,” U21s head coach Rob Page told the club’s official website.“It’s important we give the lads minutes. Some will be trying to push to get out on loan in January so they’ll be important games for us.“We’ll have a couple of days to sit back and reflect and then organise friendlies when we need them.”Chambers’ game time will be carefully managed whenever he is deemed fit to return, having missed an initial five months with the same back injury before briefly returning for Wigan and then suffering a new eight-month layoff.Injury latest: Wright, Scanlon, Danns, Mabaya, CannonierMeanwhile, striker Will Wright is also closing in on his return from a knee ligament injury sustained playing for the U19s in the UEFA Youth League in September.Wright, a summer signing from Salford City, is expected to make his comeback in early January, with potential involvement in a behind-closed-doors friendly next month.The same cannot be said for left-back Calum Scanlon or first-team regular Jayden Danns, who are both set to miss an extended period.Scanlon has not featured since picking up a serious hamstring injury while on loan at Millwall in January and has continued his rehabilitation at the AXA Training Centre since.Danns is out with a suspected hamstring tear, while right-back Isaac Mabaya has returned from a loan at Wigan with a long-term Achilles problem.Striker Oakley Cannonier, 21, is also currently nursing a hamstring injury of his own.