Exclusive info from a medical insider indicates that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will be out of action for up to nine months as he undergoes rehab on a serious knee injury.
It seems like a tough road back for Chamberlain as it stands. The former Arsenal midfielder suffered a devastating injury in the first leg against Roma and all Reds were praying his injury wouldn’t be too severe.
Having undergone successful knee surgery around a week ago, we spoke to our medical insider to see what the former Arsenal man’s road to recovery would look like.
He told us: “Alex has had his anterior cruciate ligament repaired along with having a couple of other injuries so he’ll take around 9 months to rehab. Early on he’ll be restricted to bed-based strengthening and light bike work.
“He’ll then have a progressive strengthening programme to help maximise support of the knee and to minimise future re-injury. He’ll need to be objectively tested at regular periods to ensure he can progress safely to pitch-based functional rehab and eventually back to training at approximately 8-9 months post-injury.”
Jürgen Klopp will be gutted to have Chamberlain absent for so long, with the 24-year old unlikely to make a return until February.
It’s a devastating blow for the team at such a crucial stage of the season, but even more so for a player that seemed to be growing in stature week on week. Having been a shoe-in for England’s World Cup squad, all Reds are hoping that Oxlade-Chamberlain can eventually get back to the player who looked reborn under Jurgen Klopp.
It may well be 2019 before we see that player again.
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