VIRGIL’S EUROS SACRIFICE

V LIVERPOOL 8.15PM

VIRGIL VAN DIJK has revealed he took the tough decision to miss this summer’s Euros because he wants to prolong his Liverpool career.

The Holland captain admitted he is “gutted” not to play after working so hard to overcome the serious knee injury he sustained in October. Reds boss Jurgen Klopp said “common sense was saying there was no chance” of Van Dijk, right, being fit for the summer.

Despite the obvious pressure for him to lead his country into the Euros, the centre-half was guided by medical advice that suggested coming back next season would be better for his long-term fitness.

Van Dijk said: “It’s hopefully a big, big 18 months at least with the club but also with my country because we are trying to go to the next

tournament after that as well [the World Cup] and that starts in September. I’ve decided not to go to the Euros and to go into my last phase of rehab during the off-season.

“So the full focus will be on pre-season with the club and that’s a realistic goal. It is the right decision for this time and hopefully for the future. It looks like I am on schedule to definitely be in pre-season with the boys.”

Klopp said: “I don’t know how it came up that he has a chance for the Euros. His injury has an average of 11 months [recovery].”

Jordan Henderson, above, will not play for Liverpool again this season as he recovers from groin surgery but is still in contention for England this summer. Klopp said: “Hendo is not out of the Euros yet.”