Liverpool hopes of Virgil van Dijk returning this season given major boost after defender starts light recovery training following knee injury that looked set to rule him out for the rest of the campaign
- Virgil van Dijk had looked like he would miss the rest of the season for Liverpool
- But the defender is already resuming light recovery training for the Reds
- He is battling back from a knee injury suffered against Everton in October
- It remains unclear over when the Dutch defender will be able to return
Virgil van Dijk has begun light recovery training, news which provides a key boost to Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
The central defender is facing a fight to play again this season after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in the Merseyside derby last month following his now infamous collision with Jordan Pickford.
After having surgery, Van Dijk confirmed on October 18 that he’d finalised his rehabilitation plan with a knee specialist and the Holland international has now commenced low impact training ahead of his return with a view to preparing his body for the second, more intense, phase of rehab.
Virgil van Dijk has begun light recovery training after sustaining a major knee injury
Defender Van Dijk suffered what looked a season ending injury against Everton in October
His knee injury came following a lunge from Toffees keeper Jordan Pickford during October’s Merseyside derby at Goodison Park
The news will come as a significant boost to the Premier League champions, who are in the midst of a defensive injury crisis.
There is no indication yet over whether Van Dijk is ahead of schedule in terms of his return, but the fact their talismanic defender has started recovery training will be encouraging for Liverpool.
Joe Gomez is already set to miss the rest of the campaign with a ruptured patella tendon suffered on England duty last week.
It leaves Joel Matip as the club’s only recognised senior centre-back. Fabinho did play as a makeshift centre-half after Van Dijk’s injury though he too has missed games through injury.
Liverpool’s defensive headaches have since been made worse with the loss of Joe Gomez
Despite being without his first choice centre-backs, Van Dijk’s early recovery signs will have come as good news for the Liverpool manager
