RAFAEL BENITEZ has revealed that Mohamed Sissoko could make a shock return for Liverpool in tonight's FA Cup quarter-final at Birmingham City.

The Mali international midfielder has been missing from the Liverpool side since picking up a serious retina injury following a kick to an eye during the Champions League defeat at Benfica on February 21.

At the time it was feared that Sissoko might even be left partially blind and there were question marks over the 21-year-old's career but just four weeks later, he is poised for a possible recall.

Benitez said: "I think he'll be in the squad. I don't know if he can play yet but we've been trying all different types of glasses to protect the eye and we'll have to see."

With Liverpool playing their second game in three days, Benitez said that it would be impossible to know his team ahead of yesterday's training session but admitted that he'd be forced to make some changes from Sunday's line-up.

He said: "We'll need to see how tired they are and we cannot train hard as that will make things worse.

"John Arne Riise has been training for some days and is close.

"All of the other players who were not involved on Sunday were rested."

Robbie Fowler is cup-tied but Steve Finnan and Fernando Morientes, who failed to make the 16 at St James' Park, are expected back into the starting line-up.

Crouch is likely to partner Morientes up front which means Djibril Cisse could be back on the bench despite netting his first goal of 2006 on Sunday via the penalty spot.