Jurgen Klopp to recall 17 Liverpool loan players for assessment ahead of international break

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is set to recall up to 17 loan players for an assessment prior to the international break, Coventry City boss Tony Mowbray has confirmed. Forward Ryan Kent, currently on a season-long loan at the Ricoh Arena, is among a raft of players who will return to the club's Melwood training ground to meet the German manager, who was appointed in October to replace Brendan Rodgers.

Klopp is understood to want to take a look at each of the players who agreed temporary deals during the summer, but it is not yet clear whether all of those individuals will return. Mario Balotelli, Lazar Markovic and Luis Alberto – all of whom were signed by Rodgers – are among those who could return, though their commitments with their clubs and national teams will take priority.

The news emerged when Mowbray confirmed that Coventry will be without Kent for the FA Cup first round tie against Northampton Town, as Klopp wishes to meet the players sent out on loan by Liverpool. The 18-year-old has scored once in nine league appearances for the Sky Blues and Mowbray is disappointed to be losing his services.

"Ryan is going back to Liverpool for a few days prior to the international call-up so that the new coach can have a look at him," he said, according to the Coventry Telegraph. "All the loan players are going back for a few days I think, that's fine by us; that's good.

"When a new manager comes in he wants to have a look at all of his players. I might have made changes in any case because I think the match [the 4-3 win over Barnsley] demonstrated that some players were suffering from their exertions on Saturday."

It has not yet been confirmed which of the 17 Liverpool players currently out on loan will be recalled, but it could be that the established first team players remain, allowing the academy graduates to meet Klopp, who earned a reputation for bringing through young players during his spell at Borussia Dortmund.