‘Able to play’: Klopp expects ‘important’ Liverpool player to make a big step in his recovery this week

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Jurgen Klopp expects Naby Keita to take a big step in his recovery this week. The Liverpool player has struggled with injury once again.

Jurgen Klopp offered a positive update on Naby Keita this week. Keita played 30 minutes against Lyon on Sunday – his first football since the Community Shield.

Injuries have dogged his season, ruling him out of the running for places as Liverpool battled absences. Depending on how you view the Community Shield, Keita hasn’t actually played competitive football since the Champions League final.

But Sunday was a big step and Klopp believes Keita will take another one this week. Liverpool face AC Milan in their other mid-season friendly – and the Guinean should get more minutes.

“With Naby, it was his first 30 minutes for a while, which was important,” said Klopp, per the Liverpool Echo. “He’s an important player.

“So, yes, the info was that we should only use him for 30 minutes. So against AC Milan next Friday, [he is] probably able to play a bit longer.”

Naby Keita makes steps on his recovery path

What an enormous six months this is for Keita. His contract expires at the end of the season and there’s remarkably little talk about a new one.

If he does want to stay with Liverpool – especially with the wages he’d likely want – then the Reds need him fit and firing. Keita is only going to remain at the club if he can consistently get on the pitch.

And from his point of view, he’ll want to show that even if he doesn’t want a new deal. Keita has incredible talent that would make him a key target for some massive clubs – but they’ll only give him what he wants if he’s going to stay fit and perform.

Clubs can offer him a pre-contract from January 1st so the next few weeks are big. His audition for the rest of his career takes another big step on Friday.