[ad_1]
Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk could be ready to return from injury by March given his recent social media updates, according to one pundit.
The 29-year-old is in the midst of long-term rehabilitation following a knee injury he suffered in October.
Van Dijk promptly underwent surgery on his ruptured anterior cruciate ligament and, as such, Liverpool did not put a timeline on his recovery.
However, he has documented his progress on his Twitter page. Indeed, his latest video showed him working on an exercise bike. In another post, meanwhile, he lifted weights to build up the resistance in his knee.
According to former England international Carlton Palmer, Van Dijk’s updates have offered promising hope that the Dutchman could return well before the end of the season.
“From what I’m seeing from him, he’s on the bike now and he’s started to jog a bit,” Palmer told Football Fancast.
“If he’s into straight-line running, you would think in the next month to two months [he could be back] – he’s an exceptional athlete and a consummate pro.
“If you look, in the past at Alan Shearer having a cruciate [injury], I think Shearer was back in record time because he looks after himself and keeps himself fit, players like that do recover quicker from injury.”
Immediate fears arose that Van Dijk could be out for the rest of the season. While such a scenario remains a possibility, Palmer is expecting the defender to return much earlier.
Such a recovery would also negate the need for Liverpool to enter this month’s January transfer market.
With Joe Gomez and Joel Matip also out, several pundits have have urged the Reds to bring in a new centre-back.
“You say the season at the time was written off for him, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him back maybe at the back end of February, beginning of March,” Palmer added.
“If that’s the case, there’s no need for them to go into the transfer market and pay money for someone they don’t really want.”
Netherlands legend Clarence Seedorf has worked with his compatriot on his injury and offered an update in December.
Klopp unlikely to fix Van Dijk absence
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admitted last week that his current situation would normally warrant a new signing.
However, he insisted that his club remain unlikely to bring that new addition in.
Liverpool, like many clubs, are feeling the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
Read more…
[ad_2]
Source link
