Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk is now expected to return to full fitness by the middle of February.
That’s according to The Athletic.
This follows the news that fellow centre-back Ibrahima Konate will be out of action for the next two to three weeks with a hamstring injury.
This is a huge blow to Jurgen Klopp, who has already been without the Dutchman for the last five matches – also due to a hamstring issue.
However, the 31-year-old is now expected to be fit by mid-February.
Despite this, Daily Mail journalist Dominic King has suggested there is no indication whether Van Dijk will be ready for the first-leg of the Reds’ Champions League clash against Real Madrid.
Van Dijk better return on time
Fans have become quite accustomed to Liverpool claiming their players will only be out for a few weeks, for it to only become a couple of months.
This has happened with the likes of Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino this season, which has always come as a big frustration to the Anfield faithful.
Therefore, with news of Konate’s injury, Van Dijk really will be needed to return in time to face Madrid.
At the moment, only Joe Gomez and Joel Matip are fit to play for Liverpool.
Nat Phillips was expecting to leave today, but this injury to Konate puts a spanner in the works – meaning he is likely to be added to that list.
Hopefully then Van Dijk, who’s been dubbed ‘magnificent’ by pundit Martin Keown, will be available in the coming weeks.
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