OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN BACK IN ACTION BEFORE END OF SEASON
ALEX OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN has cleared a major hurdle on his comeback from serious injury and is course to resume full training at the end of February. The Liverpool midfielder has been out since April when he ruptured the cruciate, medial and lateral ligaments in his right knee during the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against Roma. The injury was complicated by damage to hamstring tendons. Initially, it was thought that Oxlade-Chamberlain would be out for a year but he has worked relentlessly and this week he was able to get back out on the grass. Manager Jurgen Klopp now says Oxlade-Chamberlain is ‘ahead of schedule’, opening up the possibility of him playing before the season is over. ‘It is the best news,’ said Klopp. ‘He started going on the pitch and from the first step he looked completely normal. ‘Sometimes when players are coming back from an injury, they start running but is not the picture you have in your mind. ‘But with Ox, from the first step it, looked like Ox and it was really nice. We had to wait for the reaction and there was no reaction, which was even nicer. ‘So, no pressure on him but it looks like February maybe he is back in normal training. Late February-March, so that gives us hope. ‘Usually we are not that excited about something like this — a lot of things can happen after being out for that long a time — but it looks so positive. It is nice to have him around with a smile on his face. He is very happy and we are very happy about the improvement.’ Oxlade-Chamberlain became a big figure in Liverpool’s dressing room after his £35million move from Arsenal in August 2017 and he was in peak form when he suffered the blow that ruled him out of the Champions League final and World Cup with England. To get him back before the end of the season, even if it was to make only cameo appearances, would be a boost for Klopp, whose side look to consolidate their place on top of the table against Oxlade-Chamberlain’s former club tonight. ‘It needs time. Each little muscle needs time to adapt to the intensity,’ said Klopp. ‘But when you look at the little sessions he is doing outside it looks like he could play tomorrow. That is not possible. There is a long time to go but it is so nice after that serious injury to have him around. ‘It is a boost for the whole dressing room because he is such an important part of that. Even though he is only around and doesn’t train with us, it is important. If he makes further steps like he did in the last few weeks he can play Premier League football this season, which is nice to know.’ ÷ENGLAND Under 21 international Dominic Solanke will leave Liverpool to join Crystal Palace on loan for the rest of the season. Solanke, who was also a target for Brighton, has not played in the league this season. He is currently out with a muscle injury.