Liverpool defender Joe Gomez is back in full training after nearly four months out with a fractured leg.
The 21-year-old was injured during the 3-1 win against Burnley back in December but was initially only expected to miss six weeks.
Gomez was, however, unable to recover fully and required an operation that extended his time out of the side.
Manager Jurgen Klopp says that the England international is now building up his endurance and will be back to full fitness very soon:
“It is nice – Joe is not injured anymore and nearly fit. He will not be in the afternoon training session because he has to do something else – he has to work on his endurance, that’s how it is and how the boys always have to do it, like Ox had to do it when he was finally back in training. After a long time, I think Joe was out for 15 weeks, that is long, so he needs to now create the basis again for the rest of the season.”
Fans on Twitter are delighted to see Gomez back in action just in time for the Premier League run-in:
We have missed this man so much.
— Shaun owen (@Shaunowen09) 26 March 2019
Gomez is back ? pic.twitter.com/k0SZ7aXmeh
— tota ? (@totamo11) 26 March 2019
Awesome news
— Rob Evans (@Rob_Evans10) 27 March 2019
Let dem know. His back!!!!!!!
— mugambwa mumpi (@mugambwasamuel) 27 March 2019
Welcome back Bro..miss u in action
— charles bathi (@BathiCharles) 27 March 2019
It’s a good news for us
— Pedro Arias (@arias_cahuana) 27 March 2019
Missed him lots. Would be exciting to see him along side VVD for the remaining part of the campaign. Welcome back Joe.
— David Martin (@PrDavidMartin) 26 March 2019
Cnt wait to see him in action..him and VvD…wat a combination
— Equus Dube (@danieldube5) 26 March 2019
epl title confirmed.
— ? (@firmihoe) 26 March 2019
Yesssssss! You’ve been missed, @J_Gomez97. Joel Matip has held well, but you add depth to CB and RB. Keep training (and Ox, too).
— BigGameJames (@BigGameJamesLFC) 27 March 2019
Joel Matip has performed well in Gomez’s absence, and it remains to be seen whether the youngster will get his place back in the team alongside Virgil van Dijk.
He’s unlikely to be fit enough to start against Tottenham this weekend, but the game against Southampton next Friday could see him return to first-team action.