Jurgen Klopp confirmed yesterday Lallana is closing in on a return as he recovers from a thigh problem.

Lallana hasn’t featured at all for Liverpool this season with his last appearance coming on the final day of 2016/17

Iwelumo told the Premier League Daily: "This is like a new signing coming through the door.

"He's a great character as well on the pitch and off it. It's massive for the dressing room.

"He scores goal from his position. He scored eight goals in 27 games last year, that is sheer quality coming in.

"He's a Jurgen Klopp player with his energy levels. He gets the players going around him.

"For me it's like a new signing through the door."

Lallana, 29, returned to training last month and he may be on the substitutes’ bench for tonight's Champions League clash with Sevilla.

Klopp said: "He is getting nearer and nearer, but we need him for the rest of the season and not for the next week.

“He is really knocking on the door and it’s fantastic that he is back. It’s great.”