Ekitike, however, ruptured his Achilles tendon in April and is working hard at his recovery between Kirkby and the United States, where he has joined forces with a specialist.
Updates on the pair’s condition have been few and far between as they work through lengthy rehabilitation programmes, but Iraola has now delivered a positive update.
Asked when Bradley might come back, the Basque confirmed he will be back in training soon, though Ekitike is not so close.
“They are both doing very well,” Iraola said. “I think they are in a good place. Conor is not so far from training with the group – not like full training but doing some things with the group.
“Hugo is a little bit behind that but that was always the plan. He is still doing very well according to the plan.”
However, Iraola shied away from setting a specific return timeline for either player: "It’s difficult (to put a timescale on them both). When they have been injured for so long it’s difficult to say but I think Conor is not very far from starting doing things with us."
Speaking earlier in the day, Iraola confirmed an unfortunate setback for the young defender Giovanni Leoni, who signed for Liverpool from Parma last summer but was deeply unlucky to suffer an ACL injury on debut. He is expected to return to training in the next international break.