Jurgen Klopp struck a more positive tone in his delivery of the latest injury news after three veteran players returned to training, while Andy Robertson is expected to return “next week or the week after.”
Injuries have been the bane of Liverpool’s lives in the opening weeks of the season, with player after player succumbing to one health problem or another.
It’s made for some young, inexperienced players to be named to the bench, but the postponed games coupled with the international break have given the Reds a restart period over the last 17 days.
Caoimhin Kelleher, Ibrahima Konate and Calvin Ramsay have all benefited from returning to team training on Thursday, now leaving four first-team casualties.
Andy Robertson, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Curtis Jones remain sidelined, with Klopp providing an update on his squad ahead of Saturday’s game against Brighton.
“Some are still in rehab, that’s Robbo, Curtis, Oxlade, Naby, definitely these four,” Klopp said. “They’re back, I think mid to late October.
“Looks great [for Robertson]so he’s not out for too long, he’s already out on the field running, so next week or the week after.”
The absence of Luis DÃaz, Darwin Núñez and Diogo Jota in training on Thursday was not missed, but it is not a cause for concern, as it was simply a matter of calm after games and travel.
“Luis just landed yesterday morning. I haven’t seen it yet. I heard that he is good. I’ll see him later,” Klopp explained.
“Darwin, caution after an intense period of travel and games. Same for Diogo.
And the manager also revealed that there is a plan for Ramsay and Kelleher not yet to play this season, with the academy to offer the ideal environment to help them return to action.
“Calvin is not ready to play, but over the moon he can train now, now he needs to train, train, train; there will be a time when he plays U21 so he can have a game.
“Caoimh I think he will play this weekend with the U21, he has been injured for a long time but he looks good in training.
As for Konate, Klopp said: “Ibou also needs training. If he comes back at the weekend, it depends on how he trains today, but he’s back and that’s good.”
It’s a more positive tone than we’ve had so far this season, let’s hope it stays that way!
