Phillipe Coutinho will return to Aston Villa’s squad for Boxing Day clash against Liverpool

Phillipe Coutinho is set to return to the Aston Villa squad on Boxing Day as he tries to revive his career.

The Brazilian has been a huge disappointment since his £17m move from Barcelona and has just recovered from the thigh injury that kept him out of the World Cup.

But new Villa boss Unai Emery has seen encouraging signs from the former Liverpool star, who could take on his old club.

Philippe Coutinho will return to the Aston Villa squad on Boxing Day as he tries to revive his career

He said: ‘Coutinho had two or three training sessions when I got here. He trained very well before the injury. He was very excited to try to show me the best qualities of him.

The injury was at a bad time for everyone, for him, for the club, for the team. Now, he is training every day and I am seeing him really training well.

“I expect the best Coutinho possible from him. For him, Monday is a special game against Liverpool and I think he will be in the squad.

“He’s not ready to play 90 minutes, but I really want to see him on the field and with his quality he can help us a lot.”

The former Liverpool star has struggled at Aston Villa since joining from Barcelona for £17m

Villa boss Unai Emery has also insisted he is ‘excited’ to bring in new players in the January window.

Emery also confirmed that he plans to strengthen his team next month.

“I’m very happy with the players we have, but one or two could leave,” he said. ‘We can also add players to help us in the next month, but we are moving in a good direction.

“I was excited when I arrived, I still am and I will be when we can add in the transfer market.”