Joe Gomez is on the comeback trail and will play for Liverpool’s u-23 side against Burnley tonight in the Lancashire Senior Cup tie.
According to the official club website the 19-year-old has now fully recovered from the anterior cruciate ligament injury he suffered during England u-21 duty and is ready to push for a place in Jurgen Klopp’s side.
After more than 13 months on the treatment table no timetable has been set for Gomez other than being back in contention at some stage in the new year.
The full-back had only made five first team appearances following his transfer from Charlton when he was crocked but after a year to forget he is looking forward to stepping up his recovery against Burnley.
He recently played in a closed doors match against Accrington and is looking to build on that when he faces Burnley tonight.
“It was a tough year for me, but it meant a lot to get my first minutes [back] on the pitch,” he told Liverpoolfc.com.
“It was a long time away from it. It meant a lot and it was a relief to get playing again. I dreamt of it for a long time, as you can imagine, so it was good.
“After a long-term injury, you’ve got to be careful with how far you push it. I’ve just got to be patient and build up my minutes, gradually taking my time getting back to full fitness. It’s all part of the journey.”
Looking forward to a top team return he added: “The way the team is playing, it is the sort of team you want to play for.
“It’s going to make it a challenge to get back in and around it. It’s a great team to play for and that’s what you aspire to do.”