Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has provided an update on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and it isn't good news.
At the request of the player, Liverpool didn't reveal the full extent of Oxlade-Chamberlain's injury because the player didn't want the news to overshadow the Champions League quest. He suffered the injury during the home Champions League semi-final win over AS Roma.
He was also ruled out of England's World Cup squad.
Klopp insisted that the surgery went well and rehabilitation from extensive knee ligaments is progressing as expected - but the player would miss practically all of the 2018-19 season. Rumours had been circulating for some time that the player would be out in total for around 14 months.
The player has been posting photos on social media as he begins his long road to recovery.
Speaking to the official site the Liverpool manager said:
“It feels like now is an appropriate time to tell people that for Ox this coming season will be about focusing on recovery and rehab.
“We have known this from pretty much the day after he got the injury and after the successful surgery, we were sure of it. I hope everyone treats this information responsibly. There has been no change, no setback – it’s exactly on the schedule we expected and planned for. The new information is that we’re now giving more detail publicly.
“It is typical of Ox that he didn’t want the news to overshadow the end of the season and, to be quite honest, we thought we could wait and tell people at an appropriate time.
“His surgery – which he had on the day of our second leg in Roma – has been completely successful and his recovery has started superbly well.
“But the truth of the matter is that we are preparing this season knowing he will not be with us on the pitch for competitive matches for the majority of it. If we do see him back this season it will be a bonus.
“I cannot wait to have him back with us for matches, but we will wait for him and we will show the patience that is required to make sure he comes back ready to continue where he left off: as one of the most outstanding performers in European football in that moment.”
The Liverpool midfielder joined on the final day of the summer transfer window for £35M from Arsenal. He had turned down an offer from Chelsea the day before, insisting he only wanted a move to Anfield.
With Oxlade-Chamberlain out, and Emre Can having departed - Liverpool have brought in Fabinho from Monaco and Naby Keita as midfield replacements. Xherdan Shaqiri also joined the club last week for £13M.
I hope it will be a bonus so that he can be with us;”Liverpool”;with a goal or two from his own.Get well soon Ox…
All the way from Namibia