Conor Hourihane says new signing Eoghan O’Connell will ‘definitely be involved’ in the squad at Liverpool on Monday but admits it is ‘not ideal’ that the defender has not played almost five months.

The 30-year-old Irishman, who joined the Reds on Tuesday, last played for Wrexham in late August before leaving the Welsh club the following month which meant he could not sign for anyone else until the January window.

The Reds visit the Premier League champions in the FA Cup third round on Monday.

Head coach Hourihane told the Chronicle: “He will definitely be involved.

“There’s a 21s game on Friday (against Manchester City) which I am keen for him to play in to really get some sort of minutes into him.

“We have to get him up to speed as best we can. We know when he gets fit and in a decent place he will be a really valuable player for us heading into the second half of the season.

“It is not ideal he’s come in in the shape he’s in. He’s kept himself ticking over and he’s in a good place but obviously no match minutes and no club for a few months is not ideal and something we have to deal with.”

Left-backs Nathanael Ogbeta and Georgie Gent have been out injured as has centre-back Marc Roberts.

Hourihane said: “Nathanael Ogbeta will definitely be back (for Liverpool). Robbo is going to be touch and go but we will give him every chance to be involved in such a good game.

“Georgie has not trained as many days but they could all potentially be back. It will be touch and go.”

Captain Luca Connell will miss the next three games for his red card at Wigan.

“He will miss Liverpool, Blackpool and Reading which is really disappointing for me, him and the whole squad. There was a thought process around maybe appealing it but I don’t think we’d win the appeal if I am honest. He’s pivotal to what we want to do so it’s a costly red card at a bad time.”

Asked if Caylan Vickers could return to parent club Brighton, Hourihane told the Chronicle: “Potentially. We will have a look. Everything is open for suggestion in terms of Caylan and everyone else. We will see how that develops.”

Midfielder Jon Russell is likely to leave Barnsley in the near future. Hourihane said: “I have made it known that Jon’s contract is up at the end of the season. An outcome from that point of view is probably important for everyone. We all know what’s probably on the horizon with his contract running down, so it’s important there is an ending everyone is happy with.”

Barnsley have brought Corey O’Keeffe back from his loan at Stockport. Hourihane said: “He will add attacking emphasis from the right. Tennai Watson has been doing it but we like a right-back to be really aggressive and have that attacking intent and Tennai is more of an out and out defender first and foremost. Corey is more of an attacking one over his defensive side. I think they will balance each other nicely in terms of which one suits each game. Corey will stay with us and add depth and quality.”