Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain hands Liverpool HUGE injury boost - with midfielder well ahead of schedule

The Liverpool midfielder is well ahead of schedule

SHARE

By

Kristian Walsh

14:19, 28 DEC 2018UPDATED15:27, 28 DEC 2018

Play Video

 

TAP TO PLAY

WATCH NEXTThe 10 January 'signings' Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp have already made

JURGEN KLOPP DELIGHTED WITH ALEX OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN'S RETURN TO TRAINING

Get Liverpool FC updates directly to your inbox

Subscribe

See our privacy noticeMore newsletters

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has handed Liverpool a huge boost and could return to full training by late February.

The midfielder has been out since April with a serious knee injury and was expected to miss the entirety of this campaign.

But after the 25-year-old returned to running at Melwood on Christmas Eve, Jurgen Klopp has revealed the player is well ahead of schedule - and could feature again this season.

"The best news was he really started going on the pitch and from the first step it looked completely normal,” Klopp said. "It's not like when players come back sometimes and start running, not really limping, but it’s not the picture you have in your mind.

“From the first step it looked like Ox, and there was no reaction, which is nicer.

“No pressure on him but it looks like he may be back in normal training in February, late February, March. So that gives us hope that he will be back this season.

0:000:30

“That’s the moment. We are usually not that excited about something like this, a lot of things can happen, but it looked so positive.

See what Oxlade-Chamberlain did over the Christmas period

Play Video

 

TAP TO PLAY

WATCH NEXTThe 10 January 'signings' Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp have already made

ALEX OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN AND PERRIE EDWARDS VISIT LIVERPOOL CHARITY KIND

“And it’s just nice to have him around with a smile on his face again, with good reason.

“He’s obviously happy and we’re very happy about the improvement.”

Oxlade-Chamberlain was initially expected to miss all of the current campaign, which has seen the Redsmove six points clear at the top of the Premier League.

And the German boss admits he's surprised by the rate of recovery from the £35million man, but did call for caution despite the optimistic outlook.

“It’s a surprise, and if anybody from the medical department listens to what I said they’ll have a breakdown," he added. “It looks really good. It needs time and each little muscle needs to adapt to the intensity.

READ MOREMust-Read Liverpool FC Stories From The Past 24 Hours

Man City make transfer decision 

Starting 11 changes v Arsenal 

Van Dijk's brilliance revealed 

The Dortmund example to follow 

Lovren on City defeat and Klopp puzzle 

Salah's message to Koulibaly 

The six games to decide title 

Amazing title challenge stats

“But what he did so far, if you look at the little sessions he does outside, it looks like he can play tomorrow.

“It’s a long way to go, but it’s a boost for the whole dressing room. He’s such an important part of that.

“If he could be back in the team that would be really good.

“We don’t know, but it’s a surprise, he’s ahead of schedule. We won’t push it too much, but we won’t hold him back.

See how Jurgen Klopp's press conference unfolded HERE

“We don’t have to talk about his progress over the next month, or couple of months.

“But if he makes further steps like he did in the last couple of weeks he can play Premier League football this season, which is nice to know.”

James Milner, meanwhile, remains out for the clash with Arsenal following the muscle injury sustained in the win at Wolves - but could return against Manchester City on Thursday.

Dominic Solanke will also be missing, but Alberto Moreno may be back after resuming full training on Thursday.

READ MOREFormer Tottenham striker takes bizarre swipe at Mohamed Salah, Dejan Lovren and LiverpoolREAD MOREMauricio Pochettino wants Tottenham fans to be more like Liverpool

theliverpoolecho

Follow @LivEchonews

Subscribe to our Liverpool FC newsletterEnter email

PROMOTED STORIES

Language expert tells the secret to learning a language in 15 mins a dayBABBEL

SPONSORED

No, This Photo Has Not Been Edited, Look CloserFUNSTORYZ

SPONSORED

How To Lose Weight? The Secret Way To Lose It Faster Is RevealedGREEN COFFEE | SUPPLEMENTS

SPONSORED


https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/alex-oxlade-chamberlain-hands-liverpool-15605463